| Summary: | 碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 公共衛生學系碩士班 === 96 === The global warming has become a great concern in environmental issues. There are an increasing number of researchers who care about "the impact of climatic factors on human health ". The temperature has been one of the main climatic factors that pose noteworthy influences on human health. Taiwan is located in the subtropical region with a relatively high temperature and humid. Although there are no extreme climate events (such as heat wave or storm) in Taiwan, there is still clear distinction between summer and winter seasons. This study aims to investigate the relationship between ambient temperature and all-cause mortality and mortalities from circulatory and respiratory diseases. Mortality data were obtained from the Department of Health and the daily average outdoor ambient temperature records were retrieved from the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan. Both Poisson regression model and time series analytical techniques were employed in the data analyses. The results showed that as the temperature increased, the mortality rates from all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease decreased, but the mortality rates showed little variation as the temperature was over 24~25℃. Both analytical methods reported a lag effect for daily temperature to pose influences on mortality. The lag time for mortalities from all-cause and circulatory disease was estimated ranging 4-6 days, while the corresponding figure for respiratory disease was about 13-16 days. For the interaction effect, the beneficial effects on all-cause and circulatory disease mortalities from higher temperature was most evident among people ≧65 years, and for children aged 0~14 years old on respiratory disease mortality. In addition, the beneficial effect from higher temperature for all-cause and two cause-specific mortalities was also more evident in men than in women, as well as more evident in the central part of the island than in other geographic areas. Overall, the increased temperature posed a greater beneficial effect on mortality of circulatory disease mortality than on that of respiratory disease. Moreover, the time-series analysis suggested a 3-power relationship between daily temperature and all-cause / circulatory mortalities. The “S” shaped curve indicated two turning points at 24.06 and 11.77 ℃ for all-cause mortality, and at 26.36 and 12.91 ℃ for the mortality from circulatory disease.
|
|---|
