Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Volume 15, Issue 11, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15112588
Keywords
cold weather; public health intervention; mortality; spatial variation
Funding
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Environmental Change and Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Public Health England (PHE)
- University of Exeter
- University College London
- Met Office
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The Cold Weather Plan (CWP) in England was introduced to prevent the adverse health effects of cold weather; however, its impact is currently unknown. This study characterizes cold-related mortality and fuel poverty at STP (Sustainability and Transformation Partnership) level, and assesses changes in cold risk since the introduction of the CWP. Time series regression was used to estimate mortality risk for up to 28 days following exposure. Area level fuel poverty was used to indicate mitigation against cold exposure and mapped alongside area level risk. We found STP variations in mortality risk, ranging from 1.74, 1.44-2.09 (relative risk (RR), 95% CI) in Somerset, to 1.19, 1.01-1.40 in Cambridge and Peterborough. Following the introduction of the CWP, national-level mortality risk declined significantly in those aged 0-64 (1.34, 1.23-1.45, to 1.09, 1.00-1.19), but increased significantly among those aged 75+ (1.36, 1.28-1.44, to 1.58, 1.47-1.70) and for respiratory conditions (1.78, 1.56-2.02, to 2.4, 2.10-2.79). We show how spatial variation in cold mortality risk has increased since the introduction of the CWP, which may reflect differences in implementation of the plan. Combining risk with fuel poverty information identifies 14 STPs with the greatest need to address the cold effect, and that would gain most from enhanced CWP activity or additional intervention measures.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available