Impact of the 2009 Melbourne heatwave on a major public hospital.
In the week following the onset of the 2009 heatwave in Melbourne, Australia, The Alfred Hospital observed a significant increase in total hospital admissions (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.11, P = 0.046), emergency department presentations (IRR 1.15, P < 0.01) and general medical admissions (IRR 1.81, P < 0.01). Under the general medical unit there was a rise in the number of deaths (IRR 3.9, P < 0.01), and patients with a broad range of disorders, particularly of the endocrine/metabolic (IRR 2.2, P < 0.01), circulatory (IRR 1.9, P < 0.01) and genitourinary (IRR 2.6, P < 0.01) systems.
General Medical Unit, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
S J
SJ
Lindstrom
V
V
Nagalingam
H H
HH
Newnham
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D018883:Heat Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000639:trends*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D020896:Hypovolemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000639:trends*; D012621:Seasons; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
climate; extreme heat; heatstroke; hot temperature; triage