Assessing Heat–Health Vulnerability Through Temporal, Demographic, and Spatial Lenses: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Analysis in New York State
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: New York State (NYS) has experienced warming outpacing the national average, and heat events are increasing. This case-crossover study uses conditional logistic regression to estimate how maximum heat index affects heat-related illness across temporal, demographic, and spatial groups in NYS, from May to September, 2008-2019. The highest risks were in May (Relative Risk (RR) = 1.81, CI: 1.72, 1.90) and August (RR = 1.86, CI: 1.79, 1.94). Older adults, especially those aged 85 and above, are at greatest risk (RR = 1.83, CI: 1.71, 1.96). The Southern Tier climate region had a higher risk (RR = 1.93, CI: 1.80, 2.07) than several other regions. Overall, similar risk between rural and urban NYS was observed. Rural non-Hispanic Black (RR = 2.38, CI: 1.78, 3.19) populations had a higher risk than their urban counterparts. This study was innovative for NYS, providing a deeper understanding of heat-health risks to vulnerable sub-groups. This can assist with facilitating targeted interventions and public health messaging during the periods of highest risk, such as promoting awareness of cooling centers and air-conditioning benefits.
Institution: New York State Department of Health
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,016
Awards: MODERNIZING NEW YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH TRACKING TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE - THE NEW YORK STATE (NYS) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) IS SUBMITTING THIS PROPOSAL TO STRENGTHEN AND MODERNIZE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DATA AND SURVEILLANCE BY ENHANCING INNOVATION AND CAPABILITIES FOR THE NYS ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH TRACKING (EPHT OR TRACKING) PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE NATIONALLY CONSISTENT DATA MEASURES (NCDMS) TO THE NATIONAL EPHT NETWORK (NEPHTN). NYS EPHT HAS DEVELOPED A TIERED TRACKING SYSTEM TO STORE, DISPLAY, AND ANALYZE EPHT DATA THAT MEETS VARIOUS USER NEEDS. STANDARDIZED DATA ENABLES PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND POSSIBLE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH. THE NYS EPHT PORTAL (NYS TRACKER), AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://HEALTH.NY.GOV/ENVIRONMENTAL/PUBLIC_HEALTH_TRACKING/ , PROVIDES DATA AND MESSAGING FOR NCDMS AND STATE-ADDED MEASURES. WE HAVE CONCURRENTLY DEVELOPED AN ENHANCED, SUBCOUNTY CAPABLE VERSION OF THE PORTAL (NYS TRACKER 2.0) WITH ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY AND INTERACTIVE VISUALIZATIONS. NYS TRACKER 2.0 WILL BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY KEY PARTNERS AND DATA STEWARDS BEFORE IT IS MADE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DURING THIS FUNDING CYCLE. NYS EPHT STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OPERATIONS OF THE NYS AND NATIONAL EPHT NETWORKS, AND IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPORT LINKAGE STUDIES AND ANALYSES, WORK WITH PARTNERS TO ENHANCE UNDERSTAND OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH AND DEVELOP COMMUNICATIONS AND MESSAGING TO PROVIDE AWARENESS ON IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES., NYS BRACE: IMPLEMENTING ADAPTATIONS TO REDUCE THE HEALTH RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE - THE OVERARCHING PURPOSE OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (NYSDOH)/HEALTH RESEARCH INC. (HRI) "NYS BRACE: IMPLEMENTING ADAPTATIONS TO REDUCE THE HEALTH RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE" PROJECT IS TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE A CLIMATE AND HEALTH ADAPTATION PROGRAM ACROSS A FIVE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD. THROUGH THIS FUNDING, NYSDOH WILL CONTINUE WORK TO IDENTIFY, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE ADAPTATION ACTIONS THAT ADDRESS EXTREME HEAT AND EXTREME WEATHER. THE ADAPTATION ACTIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED INCLUDE COLLABORATIONS WITH CDC-FUNDED AND NON-CDC-FUNDED AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT TARGET MARGINALIZED AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND SEEK TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND BUILD HEALTH EQUITY.CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY FOR NYS. IN JANUARY 2020, THE NYS CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT (CLCPA) WENT INTO EFFECT. THE CLCPA?S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (GHG) TARGETS ARE AMONG THE MOST RIGOROUS OF ANY MAJOR ECONOMY IN THE WORLD. NEW YORK STATE (NYS) HAS EXPERIENCED CONSISTENT WARMING OVER THE LAST CENTURY,. SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE INCREASED TO 2-3?F ABOVE HISTORICAL CLIMATE NORMS IN MOST AREAS OF THE STATE AND ARE PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY AS MUCH AS 10?F BY THE 2080S UNDER DIFFERENT CLIMATE SCENARIOS. MEAN ANNUAL PRECIPITATION HAS ALSO INCREASED AND BECOME MORE VARIABLE OVER THE LAST CENTURY. PRECIPITATION IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY UP TO 15% BY THE 2080S, AND IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR MOSTLY IN WINTER MONTHS.THE CORE PROPOSAL BUILDS UPON FINDINGS FROM PREVIOUS BRACE FUNDING CYCLES AND SEEKS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES. KEY ACTIVITIES IN YEAR 1 WILL INCLUDE CONTINUED PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THECLCPA; DEVELOPING A CLIMATE IMPACT COMPENDIUM WHICH UPDATES EXISTING RESOURCES THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT CLIMATE IMPACTS, DATA AND INDICATORS, AND ADAPTIVE CAPACITY; EXTENDING WORK TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO CONSIDER THEIR CLIMATE ADAP TATION PRIORITIES; USING EVALUATION PLANS TO IMPROVE ADAPTATION ACTION; AND DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF CLIMATE HEALTH RISK PREVENTION MESSAGING AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS. PROPOSED WORK WILL BUILD ON CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, CLIMATOLOGISTS, AND NUMEROUS GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS.THE COMPONENT A PROPOSAL BUILDS UPON ADAPTATION ACTIONS RELATING TO FLOOD VULNERABILITY THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED UNDER THE CORE PROPOSAL. WE PROPOSE TO LAUNCH A PILOT INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF AT-RISK WELLS BY FUNDING THE PURCHASE OF NEW WELL CAPS, THE RAISING OF AT-RISK WELL HEADS, AND THE INSTALLATION OF UV DISINFECTION SYSTEMS. WE WILL PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST TWO WORKSHOP SERIES TO PROMOTE STRATEGIC LONG-TERM SYSTEM RESILIENCY PLANNING. WE WILL CONDUCT A TARGETED OUTREACH AND EDUCATION SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT FLOOD ZONES AND THE RISKS TO PRIVATE WELLS, AND TO DIRECT VIEWERS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.THE COMPONENT B PROPOSAL SEEKS TO IMPLEMENT A HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SECTOR CLIMATE MITIGATION POLICIES. DECREASES IN GHG AND CO-POLLUTANT EMISSIONS RESULTING FROM POLICY INITIATIVES TARGETING THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH BY REDUCING RESPIRATORY, CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES, AND PREMATURE MORTALITY. OUR PROPOSED PROJECT WILL USE NYS-SPECIFIC CRF WITH AN ESTIMATION OF PERCENTAGE IN EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS FROM SUCH A CHANGE IN POLICY TO ESTIMATE THE CO-BENEFITS OF SAVINGS ON HEALTH EXPENDITURE AND IMPROVED LIFE EXPECTANCY FROM AVOIDED MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY THROUGH SUCH MITIGATION EFFORTS. WE WILLIDENTIFY AREAS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR QUALITY AND TARGETED INTERVENTIONS CAN RESULT IN GREATER ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFIT FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. FINALLY, THESE RESULTS WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, NYSDEC AND NYSERDA TO SUP, G5361825542
OpenAlex ID: W4412475329