title: Occupational heat-related illness emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations in the southeast region, 2007-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heat-related illness (HRI) is an occupational health risk for many outdoor, and some indoor, workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Emergency department (ED) and inpatient hospitalization (IH) data for 2007-2011 from nine southeast states were analyzed to identify occupational HRI numbers and rates, demographic characteristics, and co-morbid conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 8,315 occupational HRI ED visits (6.5/100,000 workers) and 1,051 IHs (0.61/100,000) in the southeast over the study period. Out-of-state residents comprised 8% of ED visits and 12% of IHs. Rates for both, ED visits and IHs were significantly elevated in males and blacks. Younger workers had elevated rates for ED visits, while older workers had higher IH rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to evaluate occupational HRI ED visits and IHs in the southeast region and indicates the need for enhanced heat-stress prevention policies in the southeast. Findings from this study can be used to direct state health department tracking and evaluation of occupational HRI.
authors: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Harduar Morano
authors: University of Kentucky, College of Public Health, Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, Lexington, Kentucky.
authors: T L
authors: TL
authors: Bunn
authors: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lackovic
authors: Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Lavender
authors: Florida Department of Health, Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors: G T T
authors: GT
authors: Dang
authors: Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, Tallahassee, Florida.
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Chalmers
authors: Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Family Health and Wellness, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Health Data and Research, Jackson, Mississippi.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Richmond, Virginia.
authors: D D
authors: DD
authors: Flammia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: emergency department; heat; hospitalization; occupational; southeast