Attributable risk analysis of the impact of unsuitable temperature on emergency ambulance dispatches in Shijiazhuang city – based on the distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM)

Abstract

ObjectiveEvaluation of the attributable risk of unsuitable temperature on emergency ambulance dispatches in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei province. MethodsMeteorological data, air pollutant data, and individual emergency ambulance dispatch records from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2020 in Shijiazhuang city were collected. The distributed lag non-linear model was used to quantitatively assess the attributable fraction (AF) of emergency ambulance dispatches caused by unsuitable temperature. ResultsA total of 293 236 non-accidental emergency ambulance dispatches were collected in Shijiazhuang city from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2020. The cumulative exposure-response relationship between temperature and non-accidental emergency ambulance dispatches was "V" – shaped. The AF of non-accidental emergency ambulance dispatches caused by unsuitable temperature was 8.71% (95%CI: – 1.76% – 17.70%). When stratified, the impact of unsuitable temperature on emergency ambulance dispatches was mainly due to low temperature, with the AF of non-accidental emergency ambulance dispatches caused by extreme low temperature being 3.09% (95%CI: 0.55% – 5.18%). Stratified analysis found that males were more susceptible to low temperature, while females and individuals aged ≥ 65 years old were more sensitive to high temperature. ConclusionBoth high and low temperatures can increase the risk of emergency ambulance dispatches, with low temperature having a greater attributable risk. Males are more sensitive to low temperature.

Keywords

• unsuitable temperature
• distributed lag non-linear model
• attributable risk
• emergency ambulance dispatch
• shijiazhuang city