Background: the health burden associated with temperature is expected to increase due to a warming climate. Populations living in cities are likely to be particularly at risk, but the role of urban characteristics in modifying the direct effects of temperature on health is still unclear. In this contribution, we used a multi-country dataset to study effect modification of temperature-mortality relationships by a range of city-specific indicators. Methods: we collected ambient temperature and mortality daily time-series data for 340 cities in 22 countries, in periods between 1985 and 2014. Standardized measures of demographic, socio-economic, infrastructural and environmental indicators were derived from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Regional and Metropolitan Database. We used distributed lag non-linear and multivariate meta-regression models to estimate fractions of mortality attributable to heat and cold (AF%) in each city, and to evaluate the effect modification of each indicator across cities. Results: heat- and cold-related deaths amounted to 0.54% (95% confidence interval: 0.49 to 0.58%) and 6.05% (5.59 to 6.36%) of total deaths, respectively. Several city indicators modify the effect of heat, with a higher mortality impact associated with increases in population density, fine particles (PM2.5), gross domestic product (GDP) and Gini index (a measure of income inequality), whereas higher levels of green spaces were linked with a decreased effect of heat. Conclusions: this represents the largest study to date assessing the effect modification of temperature-mortality relationships. Evidence from this study can inform public-health interventions and urban planning under various climate-change and urban-development scenarios.
Auteur : Sera Francesco, Armstrong Ben, Tobias Aurelio, Vicedo-Cabrera Ana Maria, Åström Christofer, Bell Michelle L, Chen Bing-Yu, de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coelho Micheline, Matus Correa Patricia, Cruz Julio Cesar, Dang Tran Ngoc, Hurtado-Diaz Magali, Do Van Dung, Forsberg Bertil, Guo Yue Leon, Guo Yuming, Hashizume Masahiro, Honda Yasushi, Iñiguez Carmen, Jaakkola Jouni J K, Kan Haidong, Kim Ho, Lavigne Eric, Michelozzi Paola, Ortega Nicolas Valdes, Osorio Samuel, Pascal Mathilde, Ragettli Martina S, Ryti Niilo R I, Saldiva Paulo Hilario Nascimento, Schwartz Joel, Scortichini Matteo, Seposo Xerxes, Tong Shilu, Zanobetti Antonella, Gasparrini Antonio
International Journal of Epidemiology, 2019, vol. 48, n°. 4, p. 1001-1012
