Abstract:
Objective To describe the epidemiological characteristics of heat stroke patients in Zibo City in 2018 and to analyze the correlation between occurrence of heat stroke and meteorological factors, so as to provide the basis for the prevention and control measures against heat stroke.
Methods The reported data on the heatstroke in Zibo City from June 1 to September 30, 2018 were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the daily maximum temperature, daily minimum temperature and humidity data of Zibo City in the same period. The data were summarized and analyzed by SPSS 20.0.
Results A total of 178 cases of heat stroke were reported in Zibo City in 2018, including 104 cases of severe heat stroke (58.4%), 5 cases of death with mortality of 2.8%. The incidence rate of heat stroke in 2018 was 4.1/100, 000, while 31.5% of the patients occurred in Linzi District; 126 cases (70.8%)were male with average age o(f 59.3 ±19.5)years old and 52 cases(29.2%)were female with the average age o(f 68.4 ±19.8) years old; 50.6% of the cases were over 60 years old. In the age group of 30-59 years, the males accounted for higher proportion of severe heatstroke (P < 0.05). Farmers and workers accounted for 38.8% and 36.5%, respectively, while farmers accounted for higher proportion of severe patients (P < 0.05). Among 104 cases of severe heatstroke, 18 cases (17.3%) occurred indoor, and 86 cases (82.7%), mostly male (P < 0.05), occurred outdoors, including farmland, petrochemical production, construction site, logistics, etc. The number of cases of mild heat stroke and severe heat stroke were positively correlated with the highest temperature, the lowest temperature and the humidity (P < 0.05).
Conclusions The heat stroke cases in Zibo City occurred mostly from July to August in Linzi District. The vulnerable persons were the elder and the persons who working outdoor. It is suggested to improve the working environment, reduce the outdoor working hours, and prepare well according to early warning of meteorological data such as temperature and air humidity, as well as occupational health education and health promotion.