Short-term effect of temperature on cause-specific, sex-specific, and age-specific ambulance dispatches in Czechia: a nationwide time-series analysis

Abstract

Background Although several studies have investigated temperature-related mortality and morbidity, only a little is known about the short-term effects of temperature on ambulance dispatches. We aimed to conduct the first nationwide analysis of the association between temperatures and ambulance dispatches in Europe, including, for the first time, a detailed description of age-specific risks for 10-year age groups. Methods We collected daily data on ambulance dispatches and climate (i.e. temperature and relative humidity) for each district of Czechia (n = 77) during 2010–19. We estimated the relationship for each district by using a quasi-Poisson regression with distributed lag non-linear models. We then applied a multilevel multivariate random-effects meta-analysis to derive regional and countrywide average associations and calculated the burden of ambulance dispatches that was attributable to non-optimum temperatures. Results The susceptibility to low (high) temperatures increased (decreased) with age, except for the youth (<20 years), for whom the risks for both heat and cold were the highest. High temperatures contributed slightly to the risk of ambulance dispatches due to respiratory and cardiovascular causes, while the contribution of low temperatures was substantial. The overall ambulance dispatches burden that was attributable to non-optimum temperatures (optimum temperature = 7.9°C) was 3.55% (95% eCI: 3.43 to 3.67), with a predominant contribution of heat [2.32% (95% eCI: 2.15 to 2.46)] compared with cold [1.23% (95% eCI: 1.16 to 1.30)]. Conclusion This data can be used as an early-warning indicator for temperature impacts, especially among vulnerable population subgroups, such as children, adolescents, and young adults. This evidence has important implications for healthcare system preparedness and management, and for the projections of climate change health impacts.