Excess hospital admissions during the July 1995 heat wave in Chicago
Abstract
Introduction This study describes medical conditions treated in all 47 non-VA hospitals in Cook County, IL during the 1995 heat wave. We characterize the underlying diseases of the susceptible population, with the goal of tailoring prevention efforts.Methods Primary and secondary discharge diagnoses made during the heat wave and comparison periods were obtained from computerized inpatient hospital discharge data to determine reasons for hospitalization, and comorbid conditions, respectively.Results During the week of the heat wave, there were 1072 (11%) more hospital admissions than average for comparison weeks and 838 (35%) more than expected among patients aged 65 years and older. The majority of this excess (59%) were treatments for dehydration, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion; with the exception of acute renal failure no other primary discharge diagnoses were significantly elevated. In contrast, analysis of comorbid conditions revealed 23% (p = 0.019) excess admissions of underlying cardiovascular diseases, 30% (p = 0.033) of diabetes, 52% (p = 0.011) of renal diseases, and 20% (p = 0.027) of nervous system disorders. Patient admissions for emphysema (p = 0.007) and epilepsy (p = 0.009) were also significantly elevated during the heat wave week.Conclusions The majority of excess hospital admissions were due to dehydration, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion, among people with underlying medical conditions. Short-term public health interventions to reduce heat-related morbidity should be directed toward these individuals to assure access to air conditioning and adequate fluid intake. Long-term prevention efforts should aim to improve the general health condition of people at risk through, among other things, regular physician-approved exercise.
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People with diabetes mellitus have lower skin blood flow and dysregulated thermoregulatory responses during heat exposure.
“Furthermore, people with DM have been reported to have lower skin blood flow and dysregulated thermoregulatory responses during heat exposure, which is associated with dysregulated thermal, cardiovascular, and glycemic control6–8.”
From Sleep and temperature data from wearable devices support noninvasive detection of diabetes mellitus in a large-scale, retrospective analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [7]
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- Authors
- Semenza, J.
- Affiliations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- Corresponding author
- Semenza, J
- ORCID
- Semenza, J
- Venue
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1999-05
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 269-277
- ISSN
- 0749-3797 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2074485797
- Cited by
- 619
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 3.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Keywords
- heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, comorbidities, older adults, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, neurological disorders, emphysema, epilepsy, vulnerable populations
- MeSH terms
- Mental Disorders, Cardiovascular Diseases, Chicago, Diabetes Mellitus, Endocrine System Diseases, Female, Hot Temperature, Hospitalization, Humans, Kidney Diseases, Male, Nervous System Diseases, Registries, Respiratory Tract Diseases, Risk Factors, Weather, Comorbidity, Incidence, Heat Stress Disorders
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