A COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF HEAT WAVES AND ASSOCIATED MORTALITY IN ST.-LOUIS, MISSOURI - 1980 AND 1995

This research investigates heat-related mortality during the 1980 and 1995 heat waves in St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis has a long history o f extreme summer weather, and heat-related mortality is a public healt h concern. Heat waves are defined as days with apparent temperatures e xceeding 40.6 degrees C (105 degrees F). The study uses a multivariate analysis to investigate the relationship between mortality and heat w ave intensity, duration, and timing within the summer season. The heat wave of 1980 was more severe and had higher associated mortality than that of 1995. To learn if changing population characteristics, in add ition to weather conditions, contributed to this difference, changes i n population vulnerability between 1980 and 1995 are evaluated under s imulated heat wave conditions. The findings show that St. Louis remain s at risk of heat wave mortality. In addition, there is evidence that vulnerability has increased despite increased air-conditioning penetra tion and public health interventions.