Heat-Related Illness Cases and Deaths Reach Record High in South Korea
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported alarming statistics regarding heat-related illness cases in the country. According to their findings, this year saw a significant increase of 80.2% in the number of patients compared to the previous year. A total of 2,818 individuals sought medical attention for heat fever, marking the second highest number on record since 2018. It is estimated that this year’s heat wave also resulted in the highest number of deaths caused by heat-related illness.
The heat illness emergency room surveillance system, implemented annually since 2011, aims to detect the health impact of heat waves early on and minimize the damage caused. Around 500 emergency medical institutions across South Korea participate in this program. The recent figures reveal a substantial rise in heat illness cases, with 2,818 patients reported through the surveillance system.
Tragically, the number of deaths linked to heat-related illness is also a cause for concern. The estimated death toll reached 32 individuals, marking the second highest number on record, following the 48 fatalities recorded in 2018. July 29 saw the highest number of daily deaths, with seven cases reported.
The recorded data also sheds light on various factors related to these incidents. The majority of patients, approximately 77.8%, were men, while women accounted for 22.2%. In terms of age groups, individuals in their 50s were the most affected, constituting 21.3% of the cases. Those in their 60s followed closely at 18.2%. Additionally, it was observed that the highest proportion of heat-related illness cases occurred in the afternoon, with 11.1% of incidents taking place between 16:00 to 17:00.
The outdoor environment proved to be the main setting for such incidents, accounting for 79.6% of cases. The most common locations included workplaces (32.4%), followed by fields and rice paddies (14%) and roadsides (10.1%). The most frequently reported type of heat illness was heat exhaustion, affecting 56.7% of patients, followed by heat stroke (17.5%), heat cramps (15.3%), and heat syncope (8.3%).
Regional analysis revealed the highest number of cases in Gyeonggi, with 676 patients, followed by Gyeongbuk (248), Gyeongnam (229), Seoul (217), and Jeollanam-do (211). Adjusting for population size, Jeju recorded the highest rate of heat illness cases, with 14.5 per 100,000 people. Jeonbuk and Jeonnam followed closely with rates of 11.8 and 11.7, respectively.
Of the 32 estimated deaths from heat-related illness, 18 were men and 14 were women. Alarmingly, 50% of the fatalities were individuals aged 80 or above. Heat stroke was identified as the primary cause of death in 90.6% of cases.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency emphasizes the urgency of adhering to health guidelines to cope with the escalating heat waves. With climate change expected to intensify such extreme weather conditions, the agency advises the public to prioritize their safety and well-being during the hot summer months. Furthermore, they have announced plans to implement a cold disease emergency room surveillance system from December to February, which will provide vital information on health damage caused by winter cold waves.
[Seoul=Newswire]
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announces the results of the implementation of an emergency room surveillance system for heat-related illness, the second highest number of patients and deaths in history … Increased by 80.2% compared to the previous year, men , elderly, afternoon, outdoor majority … “Follow health rules”
Due to the hottest weather on record this year, the number of patients with heat fever was recorded at 2,818, an 80% increase on the previous year. The number of patients is the second highest on record since 2018, and the number of daily deaths from heat-related illness is estimated to be the highest on record.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 6th announced the results of the heat illness emergency room surveillance system operation between May 20 and September 30 this year.
Heat illness, an acute disease caused by heat, shows symptoms such as headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, fatigue, and reduced consciousness when exposed to a hot environment for a long time, and can be life-threatening if not treated. handle
The heat illness emergency room surveillance system has been implemented every summer since 2011 to recognize the health effects of heat waves early and contribute to damage reduction, and currently targets around 500 emergency medical institutions across the country.
This year, 2,818 people with heat illness were reported through the heat illness emergency room surveillance system, an increase of 80.2% from 1,564 the previous year. This is the second largest number in history, following 4,526 people in 2018.
The number of deaths estimated to be due to heat-related illness was also 32, the second highest on record after 48 in 2018. The daily death toll reached a record high of 7 on July 29.
Looking at the weekly reporting status, there were 709 patients and 11 deaths between July 30th and August 5th, and 394 patients and 7 deaths from August 6th to 12. It happened intensively, accounting for 39.1% (1,103 people) and 56% (18) people) of the deaths.
By gender, 2,192 people (77.8%) are men and 676 people (22.2%) are women.
By age, those in their 50s were the most at 21.3%, followed by those in their 60s at 18.2%, those in their 40s at 13.7%, those in their 30s at 11.5%, those in their 20s at 10.3%, those in their 80s or older at 9.5%, teenagers at 3.4%, and under-teens at 0.6%. The proportion of the elderly aged 65 or over is 29.5% of the total.
The time of occurrence of heat-related illness was 11.1% between 16 and 17 o’clock, 10.2% between 17 and 18 o’clock, 10.1% between 15 and 16 o’clock, 9.5% between 12 and 13 o’clock o’clock, 9.4% between 6 and 10 o’clock, 9.1% between 13 and 14 o’clock, and 18 to 19 o’clock It was mainly concentrated in the afternoon, such as 8.2% at o and 8.1% between 10 and 19. 12 o’clock.
The location of the event is 79.6% outdoors and 20.4% indoors. Outside, the workplace was the most common at 32.4%, followed by fields and rice paddies at 14% and roadsides at 10.1%.
By disease, heat exhaustion was the most common with 1,598 people (56.7%), followed by heat stroke with 493 people (17.5%), heat cramps with 432 people (15.3%), and heat syncope with 235 people (8.3%).
By region, there were 676 in Gyeonggi, 248 in Gyeongbuk, 229 in Gyeongnam, 217 in Seoul, and 211 in Jeollanam-do. The number of patients recorded per 100,000 people was 14.5 in Jeju, 11.8 in Jeonbuk, 11,7 in Jeonnam, and 7 in Jeonnam. 9.7 in Gyeongbuk. , Chungbuk followed with 9.4 people.
Among the 32 people estimated to have died from heat-related illness, 18 were men and 14 were women, and 16 people (50%) were over 80 years of age. The majority of deaths occurred outdoors (81.3%), and the presumed cause of death was heat stroke in 90.6% of cases.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to publish detailed information on the results of the heat illness emergency room surveillance system implementation in an annual report and provide it in November.
Ji Young-mi, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, “Since heat waves are expected to become longer and stronger in the future due to climate change, we ask people to follow the health rules to spend the hot summer in safe. and healthy.” He added, “From December this year until February next year. “We plan to implement a cold disease emergency room surveillance system to provide timely information on the status of health damage caused by cold waves in winter,” he said.
[서울=뉴시스]
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