Science Source

Heat-Related Deaths during the July 1995 Heat Wave in Chicago

Seeks to determine who was at greatest risk for heat-related death during the record-setting heat wave in Chicago in July 1995
Conducts a case–control study in Chicago to identify risk factors associated with heat-related death and death from cardiovascular causes from July 14 through July 17, 1995
Finds the risk of heat-related death was increased for people with known medical problems who were confined to bed (odds ratio as compared with those who were not confined to bed, 5.5) or who were unable to care for themselves (odds ratio, 4.1)
Finds that the odds of death also increased for those who did not leave home each day (odds ratio, 6.7), who lived alone (odds ratio, 2.3), or who lived on the top floor of a building (odds ratio, 4.7)
Finds, using a multivariate analysis, that the strongest risk factors for heat-related death were being confined to bed (odds ratio, 8.2) and living alone (odds ratio, 2.3); the risk of death was reduced for people with working air conditioners (odds ratio, 0.3) and those with access to transportation (odds ratio, 0.3). Deaths classified as due to cardiovascular causes had risk factors similar to those for heat-related death
Summarizes findings stating that those at greatest risk of dying from the heat were people with medical illnesses who were socially isolated and did not have access to air conditioning