%0 Journal Article %T Using social security number to identify sub-populations vulnerable to the health impacts from extreme heat in Florida, U.S %J Environmental research %D 2021 %A Jung, Jihoon %A Uejio, Christopher K. %A Adeyeye, Temilayo E. %A Kintziger, Kristina W. %A DuClos, Chris %A Reid, Keshia %A Jordan, Melissa %A Spector, June T. %A Insaf, Tabassum Z. %V 202 %N %P e111738-e111738 %X BACKGROUND: Some socioeconomically vulnerable groups may experience disproportionately higher risk of extreme heat illness than other groups, but no study has utilized the presence/absence of a social security number (SSN) as a proxy for vulnerable sub-populations.

METHODS: This study focused on the warm season from 2008 to 2012 in Florida, U.S. With a total number of 8,256,171 individual level health outcomes, we devised separate case-crossover models for five heat-sensitive health outcomes (cardiovascular disease, dehydration, heat-related illness, renal disease, and respiratory disease), type of health care visit (emergency department (ED) and hospitalization), and patients reporting/not reporting an SSN. Each stratified model also considered potential effect modification by sex, age, or race/ethnicity.

RESULTS: Mean temperature raised the odds of five heat-sensitive health outcomes with the highest odds ratios (ORs) for heat-related illness. Sex significantly modified heat exposure effects for dehydration ED visits (Males: 1.145, 95 % CI: 1.137-1.153; Females: 1.110, 95 % CI: 1.103-1.117) and hospitalization (Males: 1.116, 95 % CI: 1.110-1.121; Females: 1.100, 95 % CI: 1.095-1.105). Patients not reporting an SSN between 25 and 44 years (1.264, 95 % CI: 1.192-1.340) exhibited significantly higher dehydration ED ORs than those reporting an SSN (1.146, 95 % CI: 1.136-1.157). We also observed significantly higher ORs for cardiovascular disease hospitalization from the no SSN group (SSN: 1.089, 95 % CI: 1.088-1.090; no SSN: 1.100, 95 % CI: 1.091-1.110).

CONCLUSIONS: This paper partially supports the idea that individuals without an SSN could experience higher risks of dehydration (for those 25-45 years), renal disease, and cardiovascular disease than those with an SSN.

Language: en

%G en %I Elsevier Publishing %@ 0013-9351 %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111738