CLIMAHABS - Climate & Housing: thresholds for a healthy living

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Time series analysis applied on exposure to cold and daily hospital admissions in Portugal

Publication . Vasconcelos, João Viljoen de; Freire, Elisabete; Almendra, Ricardo; Santana, Paula

(Introduction) The impact of the exposure to cold weather on human health is very often underestimated. Excess winter mortality is commonly assumed as a natural pattern of seasonality and very rarely as a public health issue. As a consequence only few countries have designed health policies to reduce this environmental determinant for health, and very few studies try to quantify the effect of cold on mortality or morbidity.

2012Conference object

Open access

Human thermal discomfort and health in Portugal: a geographical assessment

Publication . Vasconcelos, J.; Freire, E.; Almendra, R.; Machado, J.R.; Santana, P.

2010Conference object

Restricted access

The impact of winter cold weather on acute myocardial infarctions in Portugal

Publication . Vasconcelos, João; Freire, Elisabete; Almendra, Ricardo; Silva, Giovani L.; Santana, Paula

Mortality due to cardiovascular diseases shows a seasonal trend that can be associated with cold weather. Portugal is the European country with the highest excess winter mortality, but nevertheless, the relationship between cold weather and health is yet to be assessed. The main aim of this study is to identify the contribution of cold weather to cardiovascular diseases within Portugal. Poisson regression analysis based on generalized additive models was applied to estimate the influence of a human-biometeorological index (PET) on daily hospitalizations for myocardial infarction. The main results revealed a negative effect of cold weather on acute myocardial infarctions in Portugal. For every degree fall in PET during winter, there was an increase of up to 2.2% (95% CI ¼ 0.9%; 3.3%) in daily hospital admissions. This paper shows the need for public policies that will help minimize or, indeed, prevent exposure to cold.

2013Journal article

Restricted access