A recent study published in Public Health Reports analyzed the heat-associated mortality surveillance system data of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH), from 2006-2016, to understand the characteristics and circumstances of heat-associated deaths in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Here, heat-associated deaths were classified based on International Classification of Diseases. 

It was found that between 2006-2016, MCDPH recorded data on 920 heat-associated deaths, 912 of which included the location of injury. The records indicated that of the 62% heat-associated deaths that occurred outdoors, 81% were among males and 43% were among individuals aged 20-49 years. Whereas, of the 38% heat-associated deaths that occurred indoors, 58% were among the elderly—aged ≥65 years. Non-Arizona residents were five times more likely than Arizona residents to have a heat-associated death outdoors. 

It was inferred that ongoing evaluation of interventions that target populations at risk, for both, outdoor and indoor heat-associated deaths can id in identifying best practices to prevent heat-associated deaths.

Source: Public Health Reports. Sep/Oct 2020;135(5):631-639. doi: 10.1177/0033354920938006.