Does the meteorological origin of heat waves influence their impact on health? A 6-year morbidity and mortality study in Madrid (Spain)

R Ruiz-Páez; J Díaz; J A López-Bueno; M A Navas; I J Mirón; G S Martínez; M Y Luna; C Linares

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158900

Does the meteorological origin of heat waves influence their impact on health? A 6-year morbidity and mortality study in Madrid (Spain)

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Jan 10:855:158900. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158900. Epub 2022 Sep 19.

Authors

R Ruiz-Páez¹, J Díaz², J A López-Bueno³, M A Navas⁴, I J Mirón⁵, G S Martínez⁶, M Y Luna⁷, C Linares⁴

Affiliations

¹ Alcala University, Madrid, Spain.
² Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: j.diaz@isciii.es.
³ University Autonoma of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
⁴ Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
⁵ Department of Health, Community Board of Castile La Mancha, Toledo, Spain.
⁶ The UNEP DTU Partnership, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁷ State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), Madrid, Spain.

PMID: 36155828
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158900

Abstract

Background: In Spain, two synoptic-scale conditions influence heat wave formation. The first involves advection of warm and dry air masses carrying dust of Saharan origin (North African Dust (NAF) = 1). The second entails anticyclonic stagnation with high insolation and stability (NAF) = 0). Some studies show that the meteorological origin of these heat waves may affect their impact on morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To determine whether the impact of heat waves on health outcomes in Madrid (Spain) during 2013-2018 varied by synoptic-scale condition.

Methodology: Outcome data consist of daily mortality and daily hospital emergency admissions (morbidity) for natural, circulatory, and respiratory causes. Predictors include daily maximum and minimum temperatures and daily mean concentrations of NO₂, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, NO₂, and O₃. Analyses adjust for insolation, relative humidity, and wind speed. Generalized linear models were performed with Poisson link between the variables controlling for trend, seasonality, and auto-regression in the series. Relative Risks (RR) and Attributable Risks (AR) were determined. The RRs for mortality attributable to high temperatures were similar regardless of NAF status. For hospital admissions, however, the RRs for hot days with NAF = 0 are higher than for days with NAF = 1. We also found that atmospheric pollutants worsen morbidity and mortality, especially PM₁₀ concentrations when NAF = 1 and O₃ concentrations when NAF = 0.

Results: The effect of heat waves on morbidity and mortality depends on the synoptic situation. The impact is greater under anticyclonic stagnation conditions than under Saharan dust advection. Further, the health impact of pollutants such as PM₁₀ and O₃ varies according to the synoptic situation.

Conclusions: Based on these findings, we strongly recommend prevention plans to include data on the meteorological situation originating the heat wave, on a synoptic-scale, as well as comprehensive preventive measures against the compounding effect of high temperatures and pollution.

Keywords: Heat waves; Hospital admissions; Meteorological conditions; Mortality; Temperature.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
Dust / analysis
Environmental Pollutants* / analysis
Hot Temperature
Morbidity
Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis
Spain / epidemiology

Substances

Nitrogen Dioxide
Dust
Environmental Pollutants
Air Pollutants