[Results of the 2022 Heat-related Illness Surveillance]

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has been monitoring the incidences of heat-related illness (HRI) during the heat waves every summer via the HRI Surveillance System since 2011. During 2022 (20 May-30 September), a total of 1,564 cases of HRI were reported to the surveillance system including an estimate of nine deaths. In the summer of 2022 (May-September), the average heat wave days was 10.6 days, which was 10.2% lower than the summer of 2021. However, the incidence of HRI rose by 13.7%. The average daily maximum temperature in early July 2022 was 32.0℃, which was 4.3℃ higher than the previous year. During that period, 33% of all HRI occurred due to an early heat wave. Of the reported patients with HRI, there were more men than women, and the most commonly affected age group was 50-59 years. HRI occurred outdoors 4.6 times more frequently than indoors. Furthermore, HRI most commonly occurred in outdoor workplaces. There were an estimate of nine reported deaths in 2022, which was 55% lower than that in the previous year, and the reported estimated cause of death was heatstroke in all cases. Health hazards from heat waves caused by climate change are anticipated to rise continuously. Consequently, the importance of health surveillance and information sharing will become increasingly important.