Association between exposure to heatwave and sudden death among residents in Jiangsu Province，China
10.3969/j.issn.1006-2483.2026.01.005
- VernacularTitle:江苏省高温热浪与居民猝死之间的关联
- Author:
Changkui OU
1
;
Yanling ZHONG
1
;
Rui LI
1
;
Yi LIN
1
;
Ruijun XU
1
;
Tingting LIU
1
;
Tingting WANG
1
;
Hong SUN
2
;
Yuewei LIU
1
Author Information
1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
2. Department of Environment and Health, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Heatwave;
Sudden death;
Time-stratified case-crossover study
- From:
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
2026;37(1):22-28
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To quantitatively assess the exposure-response association between exposure to heatwave and sudden death, estimate the attributable excess deaths, and identify potential vulnerable subgroups. Methods A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted among residents who died from sudden death in Jiangsu Province, China between 2015 and 2021. Heatwave events in Jiangsu Province, defined using varying relative temperature thresholds and durations, were identified using temperature data from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS V2.0). Individual heatwave exposure was assessed based on each subject's residential address. The exposure-response association between heatwave and sudden death was evaluated using conditional logistic regression model combined with a Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model(DLNM). Heatwave-attributable excess deaths were estimated. Stratified analyses by sex and age were performed to assess potential effect modifications. Results Under all definitions, exposure to heatwave was significantly associated with an increased risk of sudden death, and the risk increased with the intensity of heatwave. Using the P95_3d definition (temperature exceeding the 95th percentile for ≥3 consecutive days), heatwave was significantlyassociated with a 56% increased risk of sudden death (95% CI: 31%, 86%). The population-attributable fraction of sudden death due to heatwave exposure was 1.45% (95% CI: 0.97%, 1.90%). Stratified analyses indicated no statistically significant differences in the association between heatwave exposure and sudden death across age or sex subgroups. Conclusion Heatwave exposure was associated with an increased risk of sudden death. Reducing heatwave exposure during summer may help lower the occurrence of sudden death.
