Warning: fopen(/home/virtual/epih/journal/upload/ip_log/ip_log_2023-05.txt): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/virtual/lib/view_data.php on line 83 Warning: fwrite() expects parameter 1 to be resource, boolean given in /home/virtual/lib/view_data.php on line 84 Quantifying the effects of anomalies of temperature, precipitation, and surface water storage on diarrhea risk in Taiwan
Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

Epidemiol Health : Epidemiology and Health

OPEN ACCESS
SEARCH
Search
Advanced Search
mobile menu button

Articles

Page Path
HOME > Epidemiol Health > Accepted Articles > Article
Original article Quantifying the effects of anomalies of temperature, precipitation, and surface water storage on diarrhea risk in Taiwan
Gerry Andhikaputra1orcid , Ayushi Sharma1orcid , Amir Sapkota3orcid , Hao He4orcid , Yu-Kai Lin5orcid , Li-Wen Deng1orcid , Yu-Chun Wang1,2orcid
Epidemiol Health 2023;e2023024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023024 [Accepted]
Published online: February 15, 2023
  • 448 Views
  • 39 Download
  • 0 Crossref
  • 0 Scopus
1Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
2Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
3Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Maryland, United States
4Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
5Department of Health and Welfare, University of Taipei College of City Management, Taipei, Taiwan
6Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, United States
Corresponding author:  Yu-Chun Wang,
Email: ycwang@cycu.edu.tw
Received: 2 November 2022   • Revised: 30 January 2023   • Accepted: 31 January 2023
Full Article

Download PDF Download PDF

Abstract

Objectives
Diarrheal disease continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. We investigated how anomalies in monthly average temperature, precipitation, and surface water storage (SWS) impacted bacterial, and viral diarrhea morbidity in Taiwan between 2004 and 2015.
Methods
A multivariate analysis using negative binomial generalized estimating equations was employed to quantify age- and cause-specific cases of diarrhea associated with anomalies in temperature, precipitation, and SWS.
Results
Temperature anomalies were associated with an elevated rate of all-cause infectious diarrhea at a lag of 2 months, with the highest risk observed in the under-5 age group (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.03, 95% CI, 1.01-1.07). Anomalies in SWS were associated with increased viral diarrhea rates, with the highest risk observed in the under-5 age group at a 2-month lag (IRR= 1.27; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.42) and a lesser effect at a 1-month lag (IRR=1.18; 95% CI, 1.06-1.31). Furthermore, cause-specific diarrheal diseases were significantly affected by extreme weather events in Taiwan. Both extremely cold and hot conditions were associated with an increased risk of all-cause infectious diarrhea regardless of age, with IRRs ranging from 1.03 (95% CI, 1.02-1.12) to 1.18 (95% CI, 1.16-1.40).
Conclusions
The risk of all-cause infectious diarrhea was significantly associated with average temperature anomalies in the population aged under 5 years. Viral diarrhea was significantly associated with anomalies in SWS. Therefore, we recommend strategic planning and early warning systems as major solutions to improve resilience against climate change. 

Epidemiol Health : Epidemiology and Health
© Korean Society of Epidemiology.