Jin-Young Min1, Hyeong-Seong Lee2, Yeon-Soo Choi2, Kyoung-Bok Min3,4. 1. Veterans Medical Research Institute, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Statistics and Data Science, College of Commerce and Economics, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. minkb@snu.ac.kr. 4. Institute of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. minkb@snu.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Given that low income worsens health outcomes, income differences may affect health disparities in weather-related illnesses. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between income levels and prevalence of heat- and cold-related illnesses among Korean adults. METHODS: The current study comprised 535,186 participants with all variables on income and health behaviors. Patients with temperature-related illnesses were defined as individuals with outpatient medical code of heat- and cold-related illnesses. We categorized individual income into three levels: "low" for the fourth quartile (0-25%), "middle" for the second and the third quartiles (25-75%), and "high" for the first quartile (75-100%). To examine income-related health disparities, Cox proportional hazard regression was performed. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI (confidence interval) for heat- and cold-related illnesses were provided. The model adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, alcohol drinking, exercise, body mass index, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and local income per capita. RESULTS: A total of 5066 (0.95%) and 3302 (0.62%) cases identified patients with heat- and cold-related illnesses, respectively. Compared with high income patients, the adjusted HR for heat-related illnesses was significantly increased in the low income (adjusted HR = 1.103; 95% CI: 1.022-1.191). For cold-related illnesses, participants with low income were likely to have 1.217 times greater likelihood than those with high income (95% CI: 1.107-1.338), after adjusting for other covariates. In the stratified analysis of age (20-64 years and over 65 years) and sex, there was no difference in the likelihood of heat-related illnesses according to income levels. On the other hand, an HR for cold-related illnesses was higher in patients aged 20 to 64 years than in those aged over 65 years. Male with low income had also a higher HR for cold-related illnesses than female with low income. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that heat- or cold-related illnesses were more prevalent in Koreans with low income than those with high income. Strategies for low-income subgroups were needed to reduce greater damage due to the influence of extreme temperature events and to implement effective adaptation.
BACKGROUND: Given that low income worsens health outcomes, income differences may affect health disparities in weather-related illnesses. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between income levels and prevalence of heat- and cold-related illnesses among Korean adults. METHODS: The current study comprised 535,186 participants with all variables on income and health behaviors. Patients with temperature-related illnesses were defined as individuals with outpatient medical code of heat- and cold-related illnesses. We categorized individual income into three levels: "low" for the fourth quartile (0-25%), "middle" for the second and the third quartiles (25-75%), and "high" for the first quartile (75-100%). To examine income-related health disparities, Cox proportional hazard regression was performed. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI (confidence interval) for heat- and cold-related illnesses were provided. The model adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, alcohol drinking, exercise, body mass index, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and local income per capita. RESULTS: A total of 5066 (0.95%) and 3302 (0.62%) cases identified patients with heat- and cold-related illnesses, respectively. Compared with high income patients, the adjusted HR for heat-related illnesses was significantly increased in the low income (adjusted HR = 1.103; 95% CI: 1.022-1.191). For cold-related illnesses, participants with low income were likely to have 1.217 times greater likelihood than those with high income (95% CI: 1.107-1.338), after adjusting for other covariates. In the stratified analysis of age (20-64 years and over 65 years) and sex, there was no difference in the likelihood of heat-related illnesses according to income levels. On the other hand, an HR for cold-related illnesses was higher in patients aged 20 to 64 years than in those aged over 65 years. Male with low income had also a higher HR for cold-related illnesses than female with low income. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that heat- or cold-related illnesses were more prevalent in Koreans with low income than those with high income. Strategies for low-income subgroups were needed to reduce greater damage due to the influence of extreme temperature events and to implement effective adaptation.
Authors: Frank C Curriero; Karlyn S Heiner; Jonathan M Samet; Scott L Zeger; Lisa Strug; Jonathan A Patz Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2002-01-01 Impact factor: 4.897
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