Increased Mortality Risks from a Spectrum of Causes of Tropical Cyclone Exposure - China, 2013-2018

China CDC Wkly. 2023 Feb 10;5(6):119-124. doi: 10.46234/ccdcw2023.022.

Abstract

What is already known about this topic?: Tropical cyclone (TC) has a substantial and adverse impact on non-accidental mortality. However, whether heterogeneity exists when examining deaths from sub-causes and how TC impacts non-accidental mortality in the short term remain unclear.

What is added by this report?: This study found substantial associations at lag 0 between TC exposure and circulatory and respiratory mortality. TC exposures were associated with increased risks for several mortality sub-causes at lag 0 day, including ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, cerebrovascular disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and Parkinson's disease.

What are the implications for public health practice?: This finding suggests an urgent need to expand the public health focus of natural disaster management to include non-accidental mortality and sub-causes.

Keywords: Mortality risk; Tropical cyclones; non-accidental diseases.

Grants and funding

This project has received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (92043301)