Heat-Related Illness Trends at a Pediatric Health Care System, 2012 to 2023

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Pediatric Medicine
• Climate Change Impacts

Background:

• Extreme summer temperatures are increasing due to climate change, posing risks to children's health.
• Heat-related morbidity and mortality are significant concerns, especially for pediatric populations.
• Understanding trends in pediatric heat-related illness is crucial for public health preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine temporal trends in pediatric heat-related illness Emergency Department (ED) encounters.
• To compare patient characteristics and outcomes for heat-specific diagnoses versus rhabdomyolysis.
• To assess the association between temperature and ED visits for heat-related illness in children.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study analyzing ED encounters from May-September, 2012-2023.
• Inclusion criteria: pediatric patients with a heat-related ED diagnosis.
• Data analysis included trend analysis, correlation with peak temperatures, and comparison of outcomes.

Main Results:

• Aggregate heat-related illness encounters increased 170% (4.3 to 11.6 per 10,000 ED visits) from 2012 to 2023 (p=0.01).
• Higher peak temperatures correlated with increased ED volume for heat-related illness (R2=0.44, p<0.001).
• Heat-specific diagnoses were more frequent (96% ED discharge) than rhabdomyolysis (63% admission).

Conclusions:

• Pediatric ED visits for heat-related illness are increasing and associated with higher temperatures.
• Heat-specific diagnoses are more prevalent than rhabdomyolysis, with generally better ED outcomes.
• Pediatricians must recognize the health impacts of climate change and rising heat-related illnesses in children.