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Epidemiologic Study of Mortality During Summer 2003 in Italian Regional Capitals: Results of a Rapid Survey

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Extreme Weather Events and Public Health Responses

Abstract

Following the unusually hot summer in 2003 and the dramatic news from neighbouring countries such as France, the Italian Minister of Health commissioned an epidemiologic mortality study to investigate whether there had been an excess of deaths in Italy, particularly for the elderly population. Communal offices, which provide vital statistics, were asked to provide data on the number of deaths among residents between June 1 and August 31, for the years 2003 and 2002, for the 21 capital cities of Italy’s regions. A mortality increase of 3,134 deaths was observed, most of which (92 %) occurred among persons aged 75 years and older. The highest increases were observed in northwestern cities (Turin, Milan, Genoa). A clear correlation was observed between mortality and climatic indexes (maximum temperature, Humidex).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Promotion of Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena, 299, I-00161, Rome, Italy

    Dr. Susanna Conti (Chief of the Statistical Bureau)

  2. Bureau of Statistics, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Promotion of Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena, 299, I-00161, Rome, Italy

    Dr. Paola Meli, Dr. Giada Minelli, Dr. Renata Solimini, Dr. Virgilia Toccaceli, Dr. Monica Vichi, Dr. M. Carmen Beltrano & Dr. Luigi Perini

Authors
  1. Dr. Susanna Conti
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  2. Dr. Paola Meli
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  3. Dr. Giada Minelli
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  4. Dr. Renata Solimini
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  5. Dr. Virgilia Toccaceli
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  6. Dr. Monica Vichi
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  7. Dr. M. Carmen Beltrano
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  8. Dr. Luigi Perini
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Public Health Association (EUPHA), Germany

    Wilhelm Kirch (Past President) (Past President)

  2. Public Health Research Association Saxony, Medical Faculty, Technical University Dresden, Fiedlerstr. 27, D-01307, Dresden, Germany

    Wilhelm Kirch (Past President) (Past President)

  3. Special Programme on Health and Environment, WHO Regional Office for Europe, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Via Francesco Crispi, 10, I-00187, Rome, Italy

    Roberto Bertollini

  4. Global Change and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Via Francesco Crispi, 10, I-00187, Rome, Italy

    Bettina Menne

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© 2005 World Health Organization

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Conti, S. et al. (2005). Epidemiologic Study of Mortality During Summer 2003 in Italian Regional Capitals: Results of a Rapid Survey. In: Kirch, W., Bertollini, R., Menne, B. (eds) Extreme Weather Events and Public Health Responses. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-28862-7_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-28862-7_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-24417-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-28862-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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