TY - JOUR
T1 - Occupational heat-related illness emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations in the southeast region, 2007-2011
AU - Harduar Morano, L.
AU - Bunn, T. L.
AU - Lackovic, M.
AU - Lavender, A.
AU - Dang, G. T.T.
AU - Chalmers, J. J.
AU - Li, Y.
AU - Zhang, L.
AU - Flammia, D. D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Emergency department
KW - Heat
KW - Hospitalization
KW - Occupational
KW - Southeast
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U2 - 10.1002/ajim.22504
DO - 10.1002/ajim.22504
M3 - Article
C2 - 26305997
AN - SCOPUS:84941585270
SN - 0271-3586
VL - 58
SP - 1114
EP - 1125
JO - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
JF - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
IS - 10
ER -