Building and urban factors in heat related deaths during the 2003 heat wave in France

Abstract

A heat ware of an exceptional intensity occurred in France on 4-15 August 2003, that caused the death of about 15 000 persons. 35% of deaths occuired at home. A case-control study has been carried out to specify risk mortality factors. Conceiving the building factors, the insulation and the location of the dwelling are the two risk factors meaningfully related to mortality. For people who lived in a well insulated dwelling, the mortality risk was divided by 5. For people who lived at the top floor of an uninsulated block of flat, the risk factor was multiplied by 4. In addition, the local heat islands increase the risk of mortality.