Objectives: To evaluate the mortality risks from all causes as well as cardiorespiratory diseases associated with extreme temperatures among the elderly in the Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung areas of Taiwan from 1994-2008. Methods: We used the distributed lag model to analyze the 7-day cumulative mortality risks associated with 1℃ daily average temperature increases above 30℃ and the 21-day cumulative mortality risks associated with 1℃ daily average temperature decreases below 18℃ in the study areas. Relative risks associated with extreme temperature (>95% and <5%) for more than 3 consecutive days were also evaluated. Results: Taipei had a significant 5% excess mortality from all causes as well as cardiovascular diseases as daily average temperature above 30℃ with each 1℃ rise. Low temperature resulted in higher risks in Kaohsiung where the relative risk was 1.07 (95% CI: 1.05-1.10) for mortality from all causes and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.03-1.04) for mortality from cardiovascular diseases as the daily average temperature below 18℃ decreased by each 1℃. We observed adaption for high temperature but not cold temperature. No significant associations were observed between temperature changes of 1℃ and mortality from respiratory diseases. Conclusions: Cumulative mortality risks from all causes and cardiovascular diseases were significantly associated with high and low temperatures in metropolitan areas of Taiwan. The impact of each 1℃ temperature change appeared to be greater for people in the Taipei area than for those in other areas.
Objectives: To evaluate the mortality risks from all causes as well as cardiorespiratory diseases associated with extreme temperatures among the elderly in the Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung areas of Taiwan from 1994-2008. Methods: We used the distributed lag model to analyze the 7-day cumulative mortality risks associated with 1℃ daily average temperature increases above 30℃ and the 21-day cumulative mortality risks associated with 1℃ daily average temperature decreases below 18℃ in the study areas. Relative risks associated with extreme temperature (>95% and <5%) for more than 3 consecutive days were also evaluated. Results: Taipei had a significant 5% excess mortality from all causes as well as cardiovascular diseases as daily average temperature above 30℃ with each 1℃ rise. Low temperature resulted in higher risks in Kaohsiung where the relative risk was 1.07 (95% CI: 1.05-1.10) for mortality from all causes and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.03-1.04) for mortality from cardiovascular diseases as the daily average temperature below 18℃ decreased by each 1℃. We observed adaption for high temperature but not cold temperature. No significant associations were observed between temperature changes of 1℃ and mortality from respiratory diseases. Conclusions: Cumulative mortality risks from all causes and cardiovascular diseases were significantly associated with high and low temperatures in metropolitan areas of Taiwan. The impact of each 1℃ temperature change appeared to be greater for people in the Taipei area than for those in other areas.