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Lin S, Zhang W, Sheridan S, Mongillo M, DiRienzo S, Stuart NA, Stern EK, Birkhead G, Dong G, Wu S, Chowdhury S, Primeau MJ, Hao Y, Romeiko XX. The immediate effects of winter storms and power outages on multiple health outcomes and the time windows of vulnerability. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 196:110924. [PMID: 33689823 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While most prior research has focused on extreme heat, few assessed the immediate health effects of winter storms and associated power outages (PO), although severe storms have become more frequent. This study evaluates the joint and independent health effects of winter storms and PO, snow versus ice-storm, effects by time window (peak timing, winter/transitional months) and the impacts on critical care indicators including numbers of comorbidity, procedure, length of stay and cost. METHODS We use distributed lag nonlinear models to assess the impacts of winter storm/PO on hospitalizations due to cardiovascular, lower respiratory diseases (LRD), respiratory infections, food/water-borne diseases (FWBD) and injuries in New York State on 0-6 lag days following storm/PO compared with non-storm/non-PO periods (references), while controlling for time-varying factors and PM2.5. The storm-related hospitalizations are described by time window. We also calculate changes in critical care indicators between the storm/PO and control periods. RESULTS We found the joint effects of storm/PO are the strongest (risk ratios (RR) range: 1.01-1.90), followed by that of storm alone (1.02-1.39), but not during PO alone. Ice storms have stronger impacts (RRs: 1.04-3.15) than snowstorms (RRs: 1.03-2.21). The storm/PO-health associations, which occur immediately, and some last a whole week, are stronger in FWBD, October/November, and peak between 3:00-8:00 p.m. Comorbidity and medical costs significantly increase after storm/PO. CONCLUSION Winter storms increase multiple diseases, comorbidity and medical costs, especially when accompanied by PO or ice storms. Early warnings and prevention may be critical in the transitional months and afternoon rush hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
| | - Wangjian Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Scott Sheridan
- Department of Geography, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Melanie Mongillo
- Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Eric K Stern
- College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cyber-Security, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Guthrie Birkhead
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Guanghui Dong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaowei Wu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | | | - Michael J Primeau
- Office of Health Emergency Preparedness, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Yuantao Hao
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaobo X Romeiko
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
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Gan WQ, Henderson SB, Mckee G, Yuchi W, McLean KE, Hong KY, Auger N, Kosatsky T. Snowfall, Temperature, and the Risk of Death From Myocardial Infarction: A Case-Crossover Study. Am J Epidemiol 2020; 189:832-840. [PMID: 32128571 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research has associated snowfall with risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Most studies have been conducted in regions with harsh winters; it remains unclear whether snowfall is associated with risk of MI in regions with milder or more varied climates. A case-crossover design was used to investigate the association between snowfall and death from MI in British Columbia, Canada. Deaths from MI among British Columbia residents between October 15 and March 31 from 2009 to 2017 were identified. The day of each death from MI was treated as the case day, and each case day was matched to control days drawn from the same day of the week during the same month. Daily snowfall amount was assigned to case and control days at the residential address, using weather stations within 15 km of the residence and 100 m in elevation. In total, 3,300 MI case days were matched to 10,441 control days. Compared with days that had no snowfall, odds of death from MI increased 34% (95% confidence interval: 0%, 80%) on days with heavy snowfall (≥5 cm). In stratified analysis of deaths from MI as a function of both maximum temperature and snowfall, risk was significantly increased on snowfall days when the temperature was warmer.
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