Ambient Temperature Effects on Hospitalization Risk Among Farmers: A Time-Series Study on Multiple Diseases in Vietnam

Objective The aim of the study is to assess the effect of high temperatures on hospitalization for all causes and heat-sensitive diseases among Vietnamese farmers. Methods The Poisson generalized linear model and distributed lag nonlinear model were used to investigate the temperature-hospitalization association for all causes and seven cause-specific disease groups. Results Every 1°C increase in daily mean temperature above the threshold increased the estimated relative risk (95% CI) of all-cause hospitalization by 1.022 (0.998-1.047) at the country level, 1.047 (1.007-1.089) in the south, and 0.982 (0.958-1.006) in the north. Infectious disease hospitalization was most affected by high temperatures (1.098 [1.057-1.140]). High temperatures significantly increased the risk of all-cause hospitalization for farmers 60 years and younger in three of the six provinces. Conclusions The findings emphasized the need for health promotion programs to prevent heat-related health issues.