The death toll in Portugal due to the 2013 summer heatwave was up 30% on the 2012 figure with 1,684 deaths attributable to heat related causes, according to a report by the Directorate General of Health released today.
The report looked at the increase in demand for medical services including the helpline Health 24, in order to help the National Institute for Medical Emergencies gauge its service provision and plan its future response strategy.
According to the document the heatwave had a substantial impact on the health of the population, with all heat related medical complications registering increases, especially those resulting in death.
Women were affected more than men with and the over-75s suffering the most. Below this age there was an increase in deaths but in line with previous years. The 2013 heat wave led to an increased number of calls to the Health 24 helpline, up 46.7% and an increase in calls to the ambulance services, up 27.8%.
Geographically the problem hit most of the country with the notable exception of the Algarve region where there was a rise in summer deaths of 10%, but this was a normal figure and no cause for concern.
The worst affected regions were the North with an increase in deaths of 41% and the centre of the country with an increase of 36%.
The killer days were between 6 and 11 July when the average maximum temperature was 38°C.
‘This heat wave had an appreciable impact on mortality. Portugal has has offical heatwaves in 1981, 1991 and 2003. This one was not as bad as the heatwave of 1981 when 1,900 excess deaths were recorded, and the 2003 killer when 1,953 extra deaths were caused by the heat,’ according to the report
