Honors Theses
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Degree Name
BS
Department
Biomedical Sciences
Faculty Mentor
Ashley Williams, Ph.D.
Advisor(s)
Nancy Rice, Ph. D. and Steven Scyphers, Ph.D.
Abstract
Societal awareness of climate-related impacts has increased over time. In certain regions such as the Gulf Coast, the heightened risk of heatwaves, in particular, has gained recognition for their environmental and health consequences. Despite this, more research is needed to understand the relationship between heat, occupational conditions, and socioeconomic influences. This study hypothesizes that heat-related hospital admissions will coincide with heatwave events in Gulf Coast populations and that occupational conditions will significantly impact this association. Using ICD-10 codes for the top 7 heat-related diagnoses, hospital admission data from January 2023 to February 2025 was collected from USA Health affiliated hospitals. Heatwave data for that period were obtained from the National Weather Service. Additionally, phone surveys were conducted to study occupational and behavioral factors contributing to heat-related illness. Statistical analysis, including Z-tests and Poison rate ratio tests, revealed a significant association between heatwaves and hospital admissions based on both average and maximum temperatures. It has also been found that gender, race, and age significantly affect this association in different ways. GIS mapping demonstrated a disproportionate number of patients come from areas with a higher Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) score. Of the 46 quality surveys, 30 respondents reported their illness was heat-related and provided insight into how activity level, occupation, and pre-existing health conditions contribute to risk. These findings highlight the significant impact of heatwaves on heat-related hospital admissions and emphasize the role of occupational and socioeconomic factors in shaping vulnerability to heat-related illness.
Recommended Citation
Sparkman, Luke F., "Health Impacts of Extreme Heat" (2026). Honors Theses. 137.
https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_theses/137
Included in
Climate Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Public Health Commons, Other Medical Sciences Commons, Physiological Processes Commons, Population Health Commons