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Relationship between Bath-related Deaths and Low Air Temperature
Masaru Suzuki1, Toshiharu Ikaga2, Shingo Hori1
1Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Japan.
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|October 13, 2017
Summary
Sudden cardiac arrests during bathing are common in Japan, especially in winter. This study found a strong correlation between low outdoor temperatures and an increased number of bath-related cardiac arrests, particularly among the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Environmental Health
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Bath-related sudden cardiac arrests are a frequent occurrence in Japan.
- Previous research indicates a seasonal variation, with most fatal events in winter.
- The underlying reasons for this seasonal pattern remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that bath-related deaths correlate with low ambient air temperatures.
- To elucidate the seasonal variation in bath-related sudden cardiac arrests.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, cross-sectional observational study conducted in Tokyo from October 2012 to March 2013.
- Data collection focused on emergency medical system activations for bathing-related incidents.
- Analysis included elderly (≥65 years) cardiac arrest victims found in bathtubs, using nonlinear regression to correlate events with daily minimum temperatures.
Main Results:
- A total of 3,624 bath-related events were recorded.
- 1,081 deaths of elderly individuals in bathtubs were documented.
- A significant correlation was found between the daily number of cardiac arrests and the lowest daily air temperature (y=8.38e-0.07x).
Conclusions:
- Low ambient air temperature is closely correlated with the occurrence of bath-related sudden cardiac arrests.
- This finding helps explain the seasonal variation in these events.
- Public health awareness regarding bathing safety in colder temperatures is warranted.
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