Heat-Related Mortality in Freiburg and Rostock in 2003 and 2005 – Methodology and Results

Abstract

In Freiburg and Rostock, heatwaves were compared to control periods for the years 2003/2005. In Freiburg, a long heatwave in 2003 cost 21 lives (equal to a significant excess mortality of 33%). No or no significant excess mortalities were found for shorter heatwaves in Freiburg and for Rostock. The detection of heat-related mortality depends on the size of the cities (population) and the heatwave characteristics.

Zusammenfassung

In Freiburg und Rostock wurden für 2003/2005 Hitzewellen mit Referenzzeiträumen verglichen. 2003 starben durch eine längere Hitzewelle in Freiburg 21 Personen (entsprechende signifikante Exzessmortalität 33%). Keine (signifikante) Exzessmortalität wurde für kürzere Hitzewellen oder für Rostock gefunden. Die Detektion von hitzewellenassoziierter Mortalität hängt ab von Stadtgröße (Grundgesamtheit) und Hitzewellencharakteristik.

Key words

heatwaves - heatwave-associated excess mortality - methodology - public health interventions

Schlüsselwörter

Hitzewellen - Hitzewellenassoziierte Exzessmortalität - Methodik - Public Health Interventionen

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