Modifiers of diurnal temperature range and mortality association in six Korean cities

TY - JOUR

T1 - Modifiers of diurnal temperature range and mortality association in six Korean cities

AU - Lim, Youn-Hee

AU - Park, Ae Kyung

AU - Kim, Ho

PY - 2012/1

Y1 - 2012/1

N2 - Rapid temperature changes within a single day may be critical for populations vulnerable to thermal stress who have difficulty adjusting themselves behaviorally and physiologically. We hypothesized that diurnal temperature range (DTR) is associated with mortality, and that this association is modified by season and socioeconomic status (SES). We evaluated meteorological and mortality data from six metropolitan areas in Korea from 1992 to 2007. We applied generalized linear models (GLM) for quantifying the estimated effects of DTR on mortality after adjusting for mean temperature, dew point temperature, day of the week, and seasonal and long-term trends. Most areas showed a linear DTR-mortality relationship, with evidence of increasing mortality with increasing DTR. Deaths among the elderly (75 years or older), females, the less educated, and the non-hospital population were associated more strongly with DTR than with the corresponding categories. DTR was the greatest threat to vulnerable study populations, with greater influence in the fall season. DTR was found to be a predictor of mortality, and this relationship was modified by season and SES.

AB - Rapid temperature changes within a single day may be critical for populations vulnerable to thermal stress who have difficulty adjusting themselves behaviorally and physiologically. We hypothesized that diurnal temperature range (DTR) is associated with mortality, and that this association is modified by season and socioeconomic status (SES). We evaluated meteorological and mortality data from six metropolitan areas in Korea from 1992 to 2007. We applied generalized linear models (GLM) for quantifying the estimated effects of DTR on mortality after adjusting for mean temperature, dew point temperature, day of the week, and seasonal and long-term trends. Most areas showed a linear DTR-mortality relationship, with evidence of increasing mortality with increasing DTR. Deaths among the elderly (75 years or older), females, the less educated, and the non-hospital population were associated more strongly with DTR than with the corresponding categories. DTR was the greatest threat to vulnerable study populations, with greater influence in the fall season. DTR was found to be a predictor of mortality, and this relationship was modified by season and SES.

KW - Age Factors

KW - Aged

KW - Cities

KW - Educational Status

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Korea/epidemiology

KW - Male

KW - Mortality

KW - Seasons

KW - Sex Factors

KW - Social Class

KW - Temperature

U2 - 10.1007/s00484-010-0395-0

DO - 10.1007/s00484-010-0395-0

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21207069

SN - 0020-7128

VL - 56

SP - 33

EP - 42

JO - International Journal of Biometeorology

JF - International Journal of Biometeorology

IS - 1

ER -