Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40993647›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Epidemiological characteristics of heat-related illness: a nationwide study in Taiwan.

Wan-Yin Kuo, Chien-Cheng Huang, Chi-An Chen, Chung-Han Ho, Chien-Chin Hsu, Hung-Jung Lin, Shih-Bin Su, Jhi-Joung Wang, How-Ran Guo

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Wan-Yin KuoDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Road, Yongkang Dist., Tainan, 71004, Taiwan.
Chien-Cheng HuangDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Road, Yongkang Dist., Tainan, 71004, Taiwan.
Chi-An ChenDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Shengli Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan.
Chung-Han HoDepartment of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Road, Yongkang Dist., Tainan, 71004, Taiwan.
Chien-Chin Hsu *Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Road, Yongkang Dist., Tainan, 71004, Taiwan.
Hung-Jung LinDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Road, Yongkang Dist., Tainan, 71004, Taiwan.
Shih-Bin SuDepartment of Occupational Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Road, Yongkang Dist., Tainan, 71004, Taiwan.
Jhi-Joung WangDepartment of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901 Zhonghua Road, Yongkang Dist., Tainan, 71004, Taiwan.
How-Ran Guo *Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Shengli Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan. hrguo@mail.ncku.edu.tw.

Funding

Chi Mei Medical Center CMNCKU11011
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHeat-related illness (HRI) is expected to occur more frequently and become a prominent issue worldwide in the context of global warming and climate change. Previous epidemiological studies of HRI were generally limited to selected populations or specific settings. The objective of this study was to characterize the epidemiological characteristics of HRI in a general population at the national level to fill the data gaps.

methodsUsing the National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified all HRI patients in Taiwan between 2000 and 2018. We described the epidemiological characteristics of the patients and evaluated the differences between the two sexes. In addition, we evaluated the mortality rates of different types of HRI.

resultsWe identified 101,614 HRI patients, and male patients constituted the majority (56.2%). The mean age was 48.2 years, and most of the patients were between 20 and 44 years old (44.8%). In comparison with female patients, male patients were younger (46.4 vs. 50.5 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to receive treatment in hospitals (51.6% vs. 25.3%, p < 0.001). Among HRI, heat stroke was the most common diagnosis and had the highest mortality rate. The 7-day, 1-month, and 3-month mortality rates in heat stroke patients were 0.5%, 0.7% and 1.0%, respectively.

conclusionsIn Taiwan, patients with HRI are more likely to males and between 20 and 44 years old. Male patients were younger and more likely to receive treatment in hospitals. Heat stroke was the most common HRI and had the highest mortality rate, which calls for establishment of the prevention and treatment strategies.

Indexed as

Heat Stress DisordersAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTaiwanYoung AdultEpidemiologyHeat exhaustionHeat related illnessHeat strokeHeat syncopeTaiwan

Identifiers

PMID40993647
PMCPMC12461986

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.