Increased Patient Density in Period of Heat Waves and Sustainability of Healthcare
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7779059Keywords:
Heat Wave, Hospital Admissions, Sustainable Healthcare Services, Patient DensityAbstract
Studies in recent years show increases in the number and duration of Heat Waves (HWs). These increases in HWs negatively affect human health. For this reason, studies investigating the temperature-health relationship have been carried out in many parts of the world. In this study, the increases in the number and duration of HWs in Fethiye between 1960 and 2019 were examined. For the definition of HWs, it is defined as temperatures that continue for 3 consecutive days or more at 90% of the daily maximum temperatures. In the analyses made using this definition, it was determined that there were significant increases in the number and duration of HWs, especially after 2000. Accordingly, the Risk ratio (RR) calculated by comparing the occurrence of HWs after 2000 with that before 2000 was calculated as 2.59 (95% CI: 2.21-3.05 p<0.05). The year 2018 was chosen to examine the effects of HWs on human health, and the increases in hospital admissions during the 4 HWs periods that occurred in this year were examined. The logarithmic Z test method was used in the analyses to determine the effects of HWs on hospital admissions. Using this method, RRs showing the relationship between HWs and hospital admissions were calculated. Accordingly, the RRs and confidence intervals showing the HWs-health relationship were calculated respectively 1.11(95% CI: 1.08-1.15 p<0.05), 1.15(95% CI: 1.11-1.19, p<0.05), 1.12(95% CI: 1.08-1.16 p<0.05) and 1.38(95% CI: 1.34-1.42 p<0.05). These results show that patient density increases in hospitals during HWs periods. Considering that HWs will occur more frequently and for longer periods of time in the future, more investment in the health sector is needed for sustainable health care.
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