title: Development of health risk-based metrics for defining a heatwave: a time series study in Brisbane, Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study attempted to develop health risk-based metrics for defining a heatwave in Brisbane, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Poisson generalised additive model was performed to assess the impact of heatwaves on mortality and emergency hospital admissions (EHAs) in Brisbane.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, the higher the intensity and the longer the duration of a heatwave, the greater the health impacts. There was no apparent difference in EHAs risk during different periods of a warm season. However, there was a greater risk for mortality in the 2nd half of a warm season than that in the 1st half. While elderly (≥75 years) were particularly vulnerable to both the EHA and mortality effects of a heatwave, the risk for EHAs also significantly increased for two other age groups (0-64 years and 65-74 years) during severe heatwaves. Different patterns between cardiorespiratory mortality and EHAs were observed. Based on these findings, we propose the use of a tiered heat warning system based on the health risk of heatwave.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health risk-based metrics are a useful tool for the development of local heatwave definitions. This tool may have significant implications for the assessment of heatwave-related health consequences and development of heatwave response plans and implementation strategies.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia. s.tong@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Shilu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Xiao Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: FitzGerald
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neville
authors.forename: Vivienne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tippett
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verrall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055874:Extreme Heat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D012306:Risk; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult