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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Erschienen in:

06.10.2018 | Review

Sex differences in mortality after heat waves: are elderly women at higher risk?

verfasst von: Yvette van Steen, Anna-Maria Ntarladima, Rick Grobbee, Derek Karssenberg, Ilonca Vaartjes

Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Ausgabe 1/2019

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Abstract

Background and objective

Climate change leads to more frequent, intense and longer-lasting heat waves which can have severe health outcomes. The elderly are a high-risk population for heat-related mortality and some studies suggested that elderly women are more affected by extreme heat than men. This study aimed to review the presence of sex-specific results in studies performed on mortality in elderly (> 65 years old) after heat waves in Europe.

Methods

A literature search was conducted in July 2017 on papers published in databases Pubmed and Web of Science between January 2000 and December 2016.

Results

68 papers that included mortality data for elderly after heat waves were identified. The 13 of them which presented results distinguished by sex and age group were included in the review. Eight studies showed worse health outcome for elderly women compared to men. One study showed higher mortality rates for men, two found no sex differences and two studies presented inconsistent results.

Conclusion

Studies that present sex-stratified data on mortality after heat waves seem to indicate that elderly women are at higher risk than men. Future research is warranted to validate this finding. Furthermore, a better understanding on the underlying physiological or social mechanisms for possible sex and gender differences in excessive deaths for this vulnerable population is needed to set up appropriate policy measures.

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Titel: Sex differences in mortality after heat waves: are elderly women at higher risk?
verfasst von: Yvette van Steen
Anna-Maria Ntarladima
Rick Grobbee
Derek Karssenberg
Ilonca Vaartjes
Publikationsdatum: 06.10.2018
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Ausgabe 1/2019
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-018-1360-1

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Background and objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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