title: Can the elderly handle the heat? A retrospective case-control study of the impact of heat waves on older patients attending an inner city Australian emergency department.
abstract: The elderly have a higher mortality rate during heat waves and may, therefore, have higher morbidity. We investigated the effects of high ambient environmental temperature on emergency department (ED) function and patient (age >64 years) morbidity. A retrospective case-control study of ED presentations at an Australian metropolitan hospital from September 2005 to May 2010 was undertaken. Cases comprised 1297 ED presentations surrounding heat threshold days. These were compared with randomly selected presentations on nonthreshold days (3 controls: 1 case), analyzing patient morbidity and ED function variables: triage category, presenting complaint, demographics, arrival mode, time to doctor, ED length of stay (LOS), ED disposition, and discharge diagnoses. A greater proportion of cases presented with "weakness," and were diagnosed with "dehydration." There was little effect on ED function, with ED LOS 24 minutes longer for cases and time to doctor 3 minutes shorter. This study found limited evidence of increased morbidity in the elderly during heat wave conditions.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Janelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalip
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Georgina A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Jelinek
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Tracey.Weiland@svhm.org.au.
authors.forename: Tracey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Weiland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors