title: Lower air temperature is associated with ambulance transports and death in Takamatsu area, Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the linkage among ambulance transports, the number of death and air temperature in Takamatsu area, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monthly data of ambulance transports (total and acute disease) and the number of death from 2004 to 2012 were obtained from Fire Department Service in Takamatsu and Takamatsu city official website, Japan. Climate parameters for required period were also obtained from Japan Meteorological Agency. Population data in Takamatsu area were also used to adjust ambulance transports and the number of death. The linkage among ambulance transports, the number of death and climate parameters was evaluated by ecological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total ambulance transports (/a hundred thousand people/day) and ambulance transports due to acute disease (/a hundred thousand people/day) were 12.3 ± 0.9 and 6.8 ± 0.7, respectively. The number of death (/a hundred thousand people/day) was 2.5 ± 0.4. By quadratic curve, ambulance transports due to acute disease and the number of death were significantly correlated with the parameters of air temperature. However, the number of death was the highest in January and the lowest in August.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although higher air temperature was only associated with higher ambulance transports, lower air temperature was associated with both higher ambulance transports and the number death in Takamatsu area, Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Mimasaka University, Okayama, 708-8511, Japan, dokai@med.kagawa-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazumi Dokai
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Mochimasu
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyatake
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D000552:Ambulances; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014186:Transportation