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Who is more vulnerable to death from extremely cold temperatures? A case-only approach in Hong Kong with a temperate climate

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Abstract

The short-term effects of ambient cold temperature on mortality have been well documented in the literature worldwide. However, less is known about which subpopulations are more vulnerable to death related to extreme cold. We aimed to examine the personal characteristics and underlying causes of death that modified the association between extreme cold and mortality in a case-only approach. Individual information of 197,680 deaths of natural causes, daily temperature, and air pollution concentrations in cool season (November–April) during 2002–2011 in Hong Kong were collected. Extreme cold was defined as those days with preceding week with a daily maximum temperature at or less than the 1st percentile of its distribution. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of modification, further controlling for age, seasonal pattern, and air pollution. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by using the 5th percentile as cutoff point to define the extreme cold. Subjects with age of 85 and older were more vulnerable to extreme cold, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.33 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.22–1.45). The greater risk of extreme cold-related mortality was observed for total cardiorespiratory diseases and several specific causes including hypertensive diseases, stroke, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia. Hypertensive diseases exhibited the greatest vulnerability to extreme cold exposure, with an OR of 1.37 (95 % CI, 1.13–1.65). Sensitivity analyses showed the robustness of these effect modifications. This evidence on which subpopulations are vulnerable to the adverse effects of extreme cold is important to inform public health measures to minimize those effects.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Census and Statistical Department of Hong Kong for providing mortality data, the Hong Kong Observatory for providing temperature data, and the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department for providing air pollution data.

Authors’ contributions

HQ, LWT, and ITY defined the research theme. HQ, LWT, and KFH analyzed the data, interpreted the results, and wrote the paper. TQT and CMW coworked on associated data collection and their interpretation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Hong Qiu, Linwei Tian, Thuan-Quoc Thach & Chit-Ming Wong

  2. The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong

    Kin-fai Ho

  3. Hong Kong Occupational and Environmental Health Academy, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

    Ignatius T. S. Yu

Authors
  1. Hong Qiu
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  2. Linwei Tian
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  3. Kin-fai Ho
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  4. Ignatius T. S. Yu
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  5. Thuan-Quoc Thach
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  6. Chit-Ming Wong
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Correspondence to Linwei Tian.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Qiu, H., Tian, L., Ho, Kf. et al. Who is more vulnerable to death from extremely cold temperatures? A case-only approach in Hong Kong with a temperate climate. Int J Biometeorol 60, 711–717 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1065-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1065-z

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