Heat-health behaviours of older people in two Australian states

Alana Hansen; Peng Bi; Dino Pisaniello; Monika Nitschke; Graeme Tucker; Jonathan Newbury; Alison Kitson; Eleonora Dal Grande; Jodie Avery; Ying Zhang; Liza Kelsall

doi:10.1111/ajag.12134

Heat-health behaviours of older people in two Australian states

Alana Hansen, Peng Bi, Dino Pisaniello, Monika Nitschke, Graeme Tucker, Jonathan Newbury, Alison Kitson, Eleonora Dal Grande, Jodie Avery, Ying Zhang, Liza Kelsall

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: A major heatwave occurred in Australia in early 2009 with considerable and varied health impacts in South Australia (SA) and Victoria. The aim of this study was to investigate the heat-adaptive behaviours of older people in these states. Methods: A computer-assisted telephone survey of 1000 residents of SA and Victoria aged 65 years or older was conducted at the end of summer 2010-2011. Results: The majority of respondents reported undertaking heat-adaptive behaviours. In SA, there was a significantly higher proportion of households with air conditioning compared to Victoria, and a higher recall of heat-health messages. In both states, self-reported morbidity during heatwaves was higher in women, persons with poorer health and those with cardiovascular conditions. Conclusion: An increase in global temperatures in conjunction with an ageing population is a concern for public health. Our findings suggest acclimatisation to hot weather may influence behaviours and health outcomes in older people.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	E19-E25
Journal	Australasian Journal on Ageing
Volume	34
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12134
Publication status	Published or Issued - 1 Mar 2015

Keywords

Acclimatisation
Adaptive behaviour
Aged
Australia
Extreme heat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Community and Home Care
Geriatrics and Gerontology

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10.1111/ajag.12134

Cite this

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title = "Heat-health behaviours of older people in two Australian states",

abstract = "Aim: A major heatwave occurred in Australia in early 2009 with considerable and varied health impacts in South Australia (SA) and Victoria. The aim of this study was to investigate the heat-adaptive behaviours of older people in these states. Methods: A computer-assisted telephone survey of 1000 residents of SA and Victoria aged 65 years or older was conducted at the end of summer 2010-2011. Results: The majority of respondents reported undertaking heat-adaptive behaviours. In SA, there was a significantly higher proportion of households with air conditioning compared to Victoria, and a higher recall of heat-health messages. In both states, self-reported morbidity during heatwaves was higher in women, persons with poorer health and those with cardiovascular conditions. Conclusion: An increase in global temperatures in conjunction with an ageing population is a concern for public health. Our findings suggest acclimatisation to hot weather may influence behaviours and health outcomes in older people.",

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author = "Alana Hansen and Peng Bi and Dino Pisaniello and Monika Nitschke and Graeme Tucker and Jonathan Newbury and Alison Kitson and {Dal Grande}, Eleonora and Jodie Avery and Ying Zhang and Liza Kelsall",

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AU - Bi, Peng

AU - Pisaniello, Dino

AU - Nitschke, Monika

AU - Tucker, Graeme

AU - Newbury, Jonathan

AU - Kitson, Alison

AU - Dal Grande, Eleonora

AU - Avery, Jodie

AU - Zhang, Ying

AU - Kelsall, Liza

PY - 2015/3/1

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N2 - Aim: A major heatwave occurred in Australia in early 2009 with considerable and varied health impacts in South Australia (SA) and Victoria. The aim of this study was to investigate the heat-adaptive behaviours of older people in these states. Methods: A computer-assisted telephone survey of 1000 residents of SA and Victoria aged 65 years or older was conducted at the end of summer 2010-2011. Results: The majority of respondents reported undertaking heat-adaptive behaviours. In SA, there was a significantly higher proportion of households with air conditioning compared to Victoria, and a higher recall of heat-health messages. In both states, self-reported morbidity during heatwaves was higher in women, persons with poorer health and those with cardiovascular conditions. Conclusion: An increase in global temperatures in conjunction with an ageing population is a concern for public health. Our findings suggest acclimatisation to hot weather may influence behaviours and health outcomes in older people.

AB - Aim: A major heatwave occurred in Australia in early 2009 with considerable and varied health impacts in South Australia (SA) and Victoria. The aim of this study was to investigate the heat-adaptive behaviours of older people in these states. Methods: A computer-assisted telephone survey of 1000 residents of SA and Victoria aged 65 years or older was conducted at the end of summer 2010-2011. Results: The majority of respondents reported undertaking heat-adaptive behaviours. In SA, there was a significantly higher proportion of households with air conditioning compared to Victoria, and a higher recall of heat-health messages. In both states, self-reported morbidity during heatwaves was higher in women, persons with poorer health and those with cardiovascular conditions. Conclusion: An increase in global temperatures in conjunction with an ageing population is a concern for public health. Our findings suggest acclimatisation to hot weather may influence behaviours and health outcomes in older people.

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Heat-health behaviours of older people in two Australian states

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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