Low-temperature impact on ambulance call-outs in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Objectives. The present study aimed to estimate the number of emergency ambulance call-outs during the very cold winter of 2009/2010 (December–February) with respect to the reference period of 2007-2010. Material and methods. As study material there were considered about 335 000 requests for emergency care in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, and about 2 500 records of daily temperatures (mean, maximum and minimum) and wind speed from the Chisinau weather station. Quantitative estimation of the number of ambulance call-outs depending on the air temperature values was carried out using the statistical method of linear regression. Results and conclusions. Quantification of the health impact of the low temperatures recorded during the investigated period reveals that minimum diurnal temperatures have the greatest effect on the emergency ambulance call-outs increase: when the air temperature drops by 1°C, the number of total requests increases by 8 cases per day. According to nosology, the respiratory diseases correlate best with low maximum diurnal temperatures: a decrease by 1°C leads to an increase of 9 requests. The highest vulnerability to cold was recorded in the population aged 0-17 years. These findings could serve as a basis for elaboration and implementation of preventive targeting the vulnerable groups.

Keywords

• cold temperature
• emergency medical services
• linear models