TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - Occupation and environmental heat-associated deaths in Maricopa County, Arizona: a case-control study
JO  - PLoS one
A1  - Petitti, Diana B.
A1  - Harlan, Sharon L.
A1  - Chowell-Puente, Gerardo
A1  - Ruddell, Darren M.
SP  - e62596
EP  - e62596
VL  - 8
IS  - 5
N2  - BACKGROUND: Prior research shows that work in agriculture and construction/extraction occupations increases the risk of environmental heat-associated death. PURPOSE: To assess the risk of environmental heat-associated death by occupation. METHODS: This was a case-control study. Cases were heat-caused and heat-related deaths occurring from May-October during the period 2002-2009 in Maricopa County, Arizona. Controls were selected at random from non-heat-associated deaths during the same period in Maricopa County. Information on occupation, age, sex, and race-ethnicity was obtained from death certificates. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios for heat-associated death. RESULTS: There were 444 cases of heat-associated deaths in adults (18+ years) and 925 adult controls. Of heat-associated deaths, 332 (75%) occurred in men; a construction/extraction or agriculture occupation was described on the death certificate in 115 (35%) of these men. In men, the age-adjusted odds ratios for heat-associated death were 2.32 (95% confidence interval 1.55, 3.48) in association with construction/extraction and 3.50 (95% confidence interval 1.94, 6.32) in association with agriculture occupations. The odds ratio for heat-associated death was 10.17 (95% confidence interval 5.38, 19.23) in men with unknown occupation. In women, the age-adjusted odds ratio for heat-associated death was 6.32 (95% confidence interval 1.48, 27.08) in association with unknown occupation. Men age 65 years and older in agriculture occupations were at especially high risk of heat-associated death. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of environmental heat-associated death in men in agriculture and construction/extraction occupations in a setting with predictable periods of high summer temperatures presents opportunities for prevention.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1932-6203
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0062596
ID  - ref1
ER  -