Climate Change and Heat-Related Health Effects for Florida

• Activity Number: 21
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, July 29, 2012 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics and the Environment
• Author(s): Emily Leary*+ and Linda J Young and Chris DuClos and Melissa Jordan
• Companies: University of Florida and University of Florida and Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Health
• Keywords: climate change ; heat events ; heat-related morbidity ; heat-related mortality

Abstract

Projected climate change over the next 100 years suggests that Florida will exhibit the most dramatic predicted increase in average temperature in the nation. Climate change can impact human health in several ways. Those 65 years and older tend to be most susceptible to these effects, and Florida has a higher proportion of this population than any other state. Most of the past research on weather-related health effects has focused on areas during times of known heat waves and evaluated the aftermath with respect to increased mortality and/or morbidity. Here, how the increased heat affects Florida residents with respect to both morbidity and mortality is examined. Weather and atmosphere data for Florida, from 1970 to present, are used to determine heat events. Hospital admission and emergency department data from a week prior to the heat event through a week after the heat event are used to evaluate heat-related morbidity patterns. Using death certificates, heat-related mortality is analyzed during the same time frame.