MARICOPA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
DIVISION OF DISEASE CONTROL
OFFICE OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND DATA SERVICES
HEAT CAUSED AND HEAT RELATED DEATH OCURRENCES IN MARICOPA
COUNTY
2008 FINAL REPORT

May 25, 2009

2
Table1. Heat Caused and Heat Related Deaths Reported in Maricopa County:
2006 -2008
Cases
Total Reported
Confirmed
Ruled Out
Pending

2006
103
85
18
0

%
100
83
17
0

2007
129
50
79
0

%
100
39
61
0

2008
95
48
47
0

%
100
50.5
49.5
0

TOTAL
327
183
144
0

Graph1. Heat Caused and Related Deaths by Year, Maricopa County:
2001-2008
Maricopa County Heat Related and Heat Caused Deaths for Years 20002008
85

90

80

Number of Decedents

80
70
55

60
50

30

48

2007

2008

40

37

40

50

21

20
10
0
2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Year of Report

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

2006

3
Graph2. Heat Caused and Related Deaths by Case Classification and Month
Maricopa County: 2008
14
Number of Decedents

12
10
8
6
4
2
0

May

June

July

August

September

October

Heat Caused (n=31)

0

7

13

8

2

1

Heat Related (n=17)

0

5

8

2

1

1

Month of Death

Data Sources: Maricopa County, Offices of Vital Registration (Public Health) and of the Medical Examiner; Arizona
Department of Health Services, Office of Vital Registration.
Classification Criteria
**Heat Caused (HC): Cases that mention heat or heat exposure in Part I of the death certificate causes of death
(diseases or conditions in the direct sequence causing death), for variables cod_a, cod_b, cod_c, or
cod_d. County of death: Maricopa.
**Heat Related (HR): Cases that mention heat exposure in Part II of the death certificate causes of death
(diseases and conditions contributing but not directly resulting in the death sequence), but not in any
of the Part I variables (cod_a, cod_b, cod_c, or cod_d). County of death: Maricopa.
Part I of the death certificate:
cod a – immediate cause (final disease or condition resulting in death)
cod b, od c, cod d – sequentially listed conditions if any leading to the cause listed on cod a.
Part II of the death certificate: Other significant conditions contributing to death but not resulting in the
underlying cause given in part I.
The International Classification of Disease Codes (ICD-10) for Heat Caused and Heat Related
Illnesses are as follows:
ICD 10 Code
X30.xx
T67.xx
P810

Corresponding Definition
Exposure to excessive
Exposure to sunlight
Environmental hyperthermia of newborn

Phrases associated with the death certificate included in the search are as follows:
HEAT EXPOSURE, ENVIRONM, EXHAUSTION, EXHUASTION, SUN, HEAT STRESS, HEAT STROKE, and HYPERTHER

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

4
Table2. Heat Caused and Related Deaths by Residency and Classification
Maricopa County: 2008
Classification

Residency

Heat Caused

Arizona
Resident

Non-Arizona
Resident*

Unknown

Total

25
1
1

0
4
0

0
0
0

25
5
1

27

4

0

31

Maricopa County Resident
Non-Maricopa County Resident
Unknown

Heat Caused Total
Classification

Residency

Heat Related

Arizona
Resident

Non-Arizona
Resident*

Unknown

Total

16
1
0

0
0
0

0
0
0

16
1
0

17

0

0

17

Maricopa County Resident
Non-Maricopa County Resident
Unknown

Heat Related Total
Classification

Residency

Heat Caused and Related

Arizona
Resident

Non-Arizona
Resident*

Unknown

Total

41
2
1

0
4
0

0
0
0

41
6
1

44

4

0

48

Maricopa County Resident
Non-Maricopa County Resident**
Unknown

Heat Caused and Related
Total
*Non-Arizona Residence include Texas, Colorado, and Mexico
**Non-Maricopa County Residence include: Pinal, Cochise

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

5
Graph3. Heat Caused and Related Deaths by Residency and Classification
Maricopa County: 2008
50

Number of Decedents

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
HEAT CAUSED (31)

HEAT RELATED (17)

AZ. MARICOPA CO. (41)

AZ. NON-MARICOPA CO. (3)

HEAT CAUSED/HEAT RELATED (48)
NON-AZ. RESIDENT (4)

*Non-Arizona Residence include Texas, Colorado, and Mexico
**Non-Maricopa County Residence include: Pinal, Cochise and an Arizona resident with unknown county of residence

Graph4. Heat Caused/Related Deaths by Week of Death, Maricopa County: 2008
7

Number of Decedents

6

5

4

3

2

1

6/
26/
8
6/
96/
15
6/
16
-6
/2
2
6/
23
-6
/2
9
6/
30
-7
/6
7/
77/
13
7/
14
-7
/2
0
7/
21
-7
/2
7
7/
28
-8
/3
8/
48/
10
8/
11
-8
/1
7
8/
18
-8
/2
4
8/
25
-8
/3
1
9/
19/
7
9/
89/
14
9/
15
-9
/2
1
9/
22
-9
/2
8
9/
29
-1
0/
5
10
/6
-1
0/
12
10
/1
310
/1
9

0

Week of Death
Heat Caused Deaths(31)

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

Heat Related Deaths(17)

6
Graph5. Heat Caused/Related Deaths by Age and Gender, Maricopa County: 2008
10
9
8
Number of Decedents

7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

<1

1-4

5-14

15-19

20-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65-84*

85+

Male (33)

0

0

0

0

3

5

9

5

8

3

Female (15)

0

1

0

0

0

0

4

0

6

4

Agegroups in Years

*includes one married couple; Female 77 yrs old, Male 82 yrs old

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

7
Graph6. Heat Caused/Related Deaths by Age and Race/Ethnicity, Maricopa County: 2008
14

Number of Decedents

12
10
8
6
4
2
0

<1

1-4

5-14

15-19 20-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-84

White (36)

0

1

0

0

0

3

9

4

12

7

Hispanic (5)

0

0

0

0

2

1

2

0

0

0

Black (3)

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

2

0

Native American (3)

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

1

0

0

Unknown (1)

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

Agegroup in Years

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

85+

8
Graph7. Heat Caused/Related Death Rates per 100,000 by Age and Race/Ethnicity Rates,
Maricopa County: 2008
30.0
25.0
Rates

20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0

0-4

5-14

15-19 20-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-84

85+

White (36)

0.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.9

2.5

1.3

3.8

12.5

Hispanic (5)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.6

0.6

2.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Black (3)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

4.1

0.0

0.0

21.9

0.0

Nativie American (3)

0.0

0.0

0.0

5.8

0.0

15.7

27.7

0.0

0.0

Agegroups
*Excludes one decedent with an unknown race

Table3. Heat Caused/Related Deaths Associated with Occupation/Recreation
Maricopa County: 2008
Type of Death
Place of Injury

Occupational

Recreational

Unknown
Occupational

Unknown
Recreational

Not Occupational or
Recreational

Total

Indoor

0

0

0

0

17

17

Outdoor

1

4

0

2

23

30

Unknown

0

0

0

0

1

1

Total

1

4

0

2

41

48

In 2008, one death (2.1%) was reported as occupational related and four deaths (8.3%) were reported as being
associated with recreational activities.

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

9
Table4. Heat Caused/Related Deaths by Environment and Location of Injury
Maricopa County: 2008
Place of Injury (Indoor/Outdoor)
Type of Place

Indoor

Outdoor

Unknown

Total

17

8

1

26

Business

0

3

0

3

Car

0

5

0

5

Desert

0

8

0

8

Alley

0

2

0

2

Street

0

4

0

4

17(35.4%)

30(62.5%)

1(2.1%)

48(100%)

Private Residence

Total

Table5. Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths by Indoor or Outdoor Injury Occurrence
Age, and Gender Maricopa County: 2008
Age
group
<1
1-4
5-14
15-19
20-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-84
85+
Total

Male
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0
(0.0)
1
(12.5)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
5
(62.5)
2
(25.0)
8
(100.0)

Indoor
Female
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
3
(33.3)
0
(0.0)
3
(33.3)
3
(33.3)
9
(100.0)

Total
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0
(0.0)
1
(5.9)
3
(17.6)
0
(0.0)
8
(47.1)
5
(29.4)
17
(100.0)

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

Male
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
3
(12.5)
4
(16.7)
9
(37.5)
5
(20.8)
2
(8.3)
1
(4.2)
24
(100.0)

2008 (n=48)
Outdoor
Female Total
0 (0.0)
0(0.0)
1(16.7) 1 (3.3)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0
3
(0.0)
(10.0)
0
4
(0.0)
(13.3)
1
10
(16.7)
(33.3)
0
5
(0.0)
(16.7)
3
5
(50.0)
(16.7)
1
2
(16.7)
(6.7)
6
30
(100.0) (100.0)

Male
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0 (0.0)

Unknown
Female
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0 (0.0)

1
(100.0)
0
(0.0)
1
(100.0)

0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)

Total
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
1
(100.0)
0
(0.0)
1
(100.0)

10
Graph8. Indoor Heat Caused/Related Deaths by Age Distribution, Maricopa County: 2008
N=17
50.0

47.1

Percentage of Decedents

45.0
40.0
35.0
29.4

30.0
25.0
17.6

20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0

5.9
0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

<1

1-4

5-14

15-19

20-34

0.0

0.0
35-44

45-54

55-64

65-84

85+

Agegroup

Graph9. Outdoor Heat Caused/Related Deaths by Age Distribution, Maricopa County: 2008
N=30
33.3

Percentage of Decedents

35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0

16.7

16.7

13.3

15.0
10.0
10.0

6.7
3.3

5.0
0.0

0.0

0.0

5-14

15-19

0.0
<1

1-4

20-34

35-44

Agegroups in Years

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

45-54

55-64

65-84

85+

11
Table6. Heat Caused/Related Deaths by Use of Air Conditioning and Age Group,
Maricopa County: 2008
Age group
<1
1-4
5-14
15-19
20-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-84
85+
Total

Air conditioning not in use
or broken
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
6
3
11(22.9)

Unknown if working
air conditioning Available
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
2
7(14.6)

Not applicable

Total

0
1
0
0
3
4
10
5
5
2
30(62.5)

0
1
0
0
3
5
13
5
14
7
48

Table7. Heat Caused/Related Deaths by City* of Injury, Maricopa County: 2008

CITY
BUCKEYE
CHANDLER
GILA BEND
GILBERT
GLENDALE
MESA
PEORIA
PHOENIX
SCOTTSDALE
SUN CITY
SUN CITY WEST
SURPRISE
TEMPE
Other Cities
Total

Number of Cases

%
1
1
1
1
6
4
1
22
1
2
1
1
3
0
45

2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
13.3
8.9
2.2
48.9
2.2
4.4
2.2
2.2
6.7
0
100.0

City’s % of
Maricopa Co.
Pop.**
1.0
6.4
.04
5.3
6.5
11.7
3.8
40.0
6.1
1.0
1.0
2.3
1.7
13.2
100.0

*Excludes two cases where injury occurred out of county and one case with an unknown city of injury.
**Based on the 2007 U.S. Census Population for Maricopa County

Table8. Homeless Deaths by Mention of Alcohol and Drugs, Maricopa Co. 2008

Drug and/or Alcohol
Use
Homeless

No Drug or Alcohol
Use

Yes (6, 12.5%)

4 (66.7%)

2 (33.3%)

No (42, 87.5%)

12 (28.5%)

30 (71.4%)

Total (48, 100%)

16 (33.3%)

32 (66.6%)

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

12

Graph10. Heat Caused/Related Deaths by Decedent’s Time in Arizona,
Maricopa Co. 2008
35

18
16
Number of Decedents

14
25
12
10

20

8

15

6
10
4
5

2

or 36
m
o
Uk re
no
wn
40

33

32

30

28

25

23

19

18

17

16

15

14

12

7

6

5

4

2

0
1

<1

0

Number of Years in Arizona
Number of Decedents

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

Percentage of Decedents

Percentage of Decedents

30

13

Graph11. Heat Caused/Related Deaths by Decedent’s Time in Arizona and Race/Ethnicity,
Maricopa County, 2008
30
Number of Decedents

25
20
15
10
5
0

<1

1-4

5-9

>10

Unknown

White (36)

2

3

5

26

0

Hispanic (5)

1

0

0

3

1

Black (3)

0

0

0

2

1

Native American (3)

0

0

0

3

0

Unknown (1)

0

0

0

0

1

Time in Arizona (in Years)

Heat Related/Heat Caused Deaths, 2008

Heat Caused
Heat Related
High Temp

Date

Low Temp

10/27/2008

10/20/2008

10/13/2008

10/6/2008

9/29/2008

9/22/2008

9/15/2008

9/8/2008

9/1/2008

8/25/2008

8/18/2008

8/11/2008

8/4/2008

7/28/2008

7/21/2008

7/14/2008

7/7/2008

6/30/2008

6/23/2008

6/16/2008

6/9/2008

6/2/2008

5/26/2008

5/19/2008

5/12/2008

5/5/2008

4/28/2008

Temp (F)

130

90
6

80
4

70

60
2

50
0

# of Deaths

Graph 12. Maricopa County 2008: Heat Caused/Related Deaths
by Temperature and Date (n=48)
12

120
10

110

100
8