SynthesisInternational journal of public health2013
Evaluating the effectiveness of heat warning systems: systematic review of epidemiological evidence.
Synthesis in International journal of public health, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 68 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
68 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Heatwave Definition and Impact on Cardiovascular Health: A Systematic Review.Public health reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Heat Health Prevention Measures and Adaptation in Older Populations-A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Pooled it
- Effectiveness of National Weather Service heat alerts in preventing mortality in 20 US cities.Environment international · 2018Pooled it
- Is planned adaptation to heat reducing heat-related mortality and illness? A systematic review.BMC public health · 2014Pooled it
- The Effect of an Automated Phone Warning and Health Advisory System on Adaptation to High Heat Episodes and Health Services Use in Vulnerable Groups-Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2018Trial
- Mobile Heat Early Warning System for Pregnant and Postpartum Women in South Africa: Prospective Observational Evaluation Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2026Observational
- Data Considerations for Estimating Ambient Heat Exposure for Environmental Epidemiological Studies.Current environmental health reports · 2026Review
- Heat, Brain, and Mental Health: Biological Mechanisms Underlying Climate-Related Psychiatric Outcomes.Biology · 2026Review
- Excess risk of heat-related hospitalization associated with temperature and PMEnvironmental epidemiology (Philadelphia, Pa.) · 2026Article
- Coordinating extreme-heat adaptation at mega-sporting events: early warning and cost sharing in a multi-actor differential game.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Heat-health warning systems for outdoor workers: recent advances, implementation gaps, and future priorities.Frontiers in public health · 2026Review
- Climate resilience adaptation and psychiatric emergency services utilization during extreme heat in Boston, MA: a difference-in-differences analysis.Environment international · 2026Article
- Experience-driven perceptions misalign with assessed heat risk in the United States.Nature communications · 2025Article
- A Case-Crossover Study of Extreme Heat and Psychiatric Emergency Encounters Among Vulnerable Pregnant People.Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology · 2025Article
- Promoting targeted heat early warning systems for at-risk populations.Nature climate change · 2025Article
- A digital heat early warning system for older adults.NPJ digital medicine · 2025Article
- Evaluation of community-based heat adaptation interventions: a systematic review.BMJ public health · 2025Article
- Comprehensive evaluation framework for intervention on health effects of ambient temperature.Eco-Environment & Health · 2024Review
- Experimental research in environmentally induced hyperthermic older persons: A systematic quantitative literature review mapping the available evidence.Temperature (Austin, Tex.) · 2024Article
- The Impact of Heat Waves on Health Care Services in Low- or Middle-Income Countries: Protocol for a Systematic Review.JMIR research protocols · 2023Article
8 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo review the existing research on the effectiveness of heat warning systems (HWSs) in saving lives and reducing harm.
methodsA systematic search of major databases was conducted, using "heat, heatwave, high temperature, hot temperature, OR hot climate" AND "warning system".
resultsFifteen articles were retrieved. Six studies asserted that fewer people died of excessive heat after HWS implementation. HWS was associated with reduction in ambulance use. One study estimated the benefits of HWS to be $468 million for saving 117 lives compared to $210,000 costs of running the system. Eight studies showed that mere availability of HWS did not lead to behavioral changes. Perceived threat of heat dangers to self/others was the main factor related to heeding warnings and taking proper actions. However, costs and barriers associated with taking protective actions, such as costs of running air conditioners, were of significant concern particularly to the poor.
conclusionsResearch in this area is limited. Prospective designs applying health behavior theories should establish whether HWS can produce the health benefits they are purported to achieve by identifying the target vulnerable groups.
Indexed as
Identifiers
23564031What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.