[The consequences of the heat wave in August 2003 on the mortality of the elderly. The first overview].

THE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF HEAT WAVES: In fragile persons, particularly in the elderly, heat waves provoke excessive mortality. They may also have indirect effects through the decompensation of a chronic, notably cardiovascular or respiratory, disease, or direct heat stroke effects. Heat stroke is defined as a severe disease with body temperature exceeding 40 degrees C and central neurological manifestations, heat stroke in the very elderly leads to a high rate of mortality, particularly when complications related to bed rest and loss of autonomy are since added. Regarding therapeuty, treatment of heat stroke relies on cooling the body and reanimation measures to compensate organ failure, with relief of the dehydration hypovolemia. The heat wave in August 2003 provoked excess mortality particularly in the elderly with 69% of the deaths concerning persons aged over 75. In the future, preventive measures must be taken to limit the health consequences of any heat waves to come.