Are IBD and GI Infections Worse During Heat Waves?

Heat waves are associated with increases in mortality, commonly reported in patients who are sick or elderly. To examine the effect of heat waves on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and infectious gastroenteritis (IG), investigators conducted a retrospective, observational study involving 2030 patients admitted to the University Hospital of Zurich with IBD (738 patients), IG (786 patients), or non-IBD, noninfectious intestinal inflammation (NII; 506 controls). The study period was from 2001 through 2005, during which there were 17 heat waves, defined as ≥6 consecutive days with temperatures ≥9 degrees Fahrenheit above the average daily maximum.

Admissions for IBD rose 34.4% overall during heat-wave periods and 4.6% for each additional day of…