Heat-related Illness

This research aims to evaluate whether a thirst kit using a lemon popsicle can reduce thirst intensity in adults undergoing hospital bowel preparation for colonoscopy. The study also examines if the kit can lessen symptoms like dry mouth and dry throat and how satisfied patients are with this intervention compared to a placebo. The trial is designed to randomly assign participants to either the thirst kit or a placebo group for comparison. Participants will receive either a lemon-flavored popsicle with an encouraging message or a placebo consisting of distilled water in a blister pack with a cotton ball and the same message. These interventions are used during the hospital bowel preparation period before colonoscopy. The lemon popsicle group receives a 60g popsicle from a specific brand, while the placebo group receives a 10 ml water blister pack. During the study, participants will rate their thirst intensity and related symptoms using numerical scales just before sedation begins for the colonoscopy. Researchers will collect these ratings to assess the primary outcome of thirst intensity. The entire process occurs in the hospital setting, and the study includes adults aged 18 and older who are undergoing bowel preparation for colonoscopy. The studys main measurement happens 10 minutes before sedation when patients arrive at the examination room.

The trial investigates how the drugs propranolol and metoprolol affect core body temperature in older adults during extreme heat exposure. It aims to understand why adults over 65 have higher rates of heat-related illness and death, especially since beta blockers are commonly prescribed for cardiovascular conditions in this age group. This is important because previous studies in younger people showed beta blockers affect sweating and blood flow, but their impact on older adults in heat is unknown. Participants will experience 3 hours of heat exposure in a chamber set to 41C with 40% humidity. They will receive different sequences of propranolol, metoprolol, and placebo in a randomized, double-blind manner to compare effects on their body temperature and sweat rate. The study involves multiple treatment arms rotating these drugs to assess their influence during simulated heat waves. During the study, researchers will continuously measure internal body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure while also tracking whole body sweat rate before and after heat exposure by measuring body mass. The trial focuses on healthy adults aged 65 and older who meet specific health criteria. The total observation lasts through the 3-hour heat exposure, with close monitoring of cardiovascular and thermoregulatory responses to understand drug effects in aging individuals.

The trial investigates whether the perfusion index PI can reliably predict changes in systolic blood pressure SBP in adults with spinal cord injury SCI during a controlled cool temperature challenge. The study involves participants aged 18 to 75 years with SCI at neurological levels C4-T12 graded as ASIA Impairment Scale A or B motor complete, along with healthy age- and gender-matched able-bodied controls. Researchers aim to understand the relationship between PI and SBP changes, which may help clarify blood pressure instability after SCI and contribute to developing wearable monitoring devices. Participants in both groups undergo a non-invasive cool thermal challenge in a climate-controlled chamber at 18C 64.4F for up to 90 minutes, after a 10-minute baseline period at 27C 80F. They wear shorts and a T-shirt while seated in a wheelchair. Continuous measurements of PI, blood pressure, and other vital signs are recorded using sensors attached to the skin throughout the warm baseline and cool challenge phases. During the study, participants will have temperature sensors taped to their forehead and pulse oximeters placed on their ear, finger, and toe to measure PI and beat-to-beat blood pressure. Measurements are taken while seated in a wheelchair for 10 minutes in a warm room and then up to 90 minutes in a cool room. The primary outcomes are continuous recordings of PI and SBP during these phases. This research may support the development of wearable devices for early detection and management of blood pressure fluctuations in persons with SCI.

Researchers are studying preterm infants born between 25 and 32 weeks of gestation to compare two methods of incubator temperature control and their effects on infant weight growth and health. The study is based on earlier findings that lower body temperature on admission relates to higher illness and death rates in preterm infants. It aims to see if using a new software to calculate personalized air temperature in incubators can improve growth and reduce side effects compared to the traditional skin temperature control method. The study compares two incubator control methods air temperature control ATC, which uses software to set air temperature to reduce body heat loss to zero, and skin servocontrol SSC, which adjusts incubator temperature based on the infants skin temperature. Both methods are evaluated in closed incubators for preterm infants. The trial randomly assigns infants to one of these two methods to study their effects during the first 10 days of life. Participants will be monitored for changes in body weight until day 10, along with comfort, thermal stress, and humidity challenges. The study also tracks neonatal illness occurrences up to 40 weeks of amenorrhea and length of hospital stay until discharge or 40 weeks of amenorrhea. Parents provide written consent, and infants are included within the first day of life. The study continues through hospitalization, assessing health outcomes and safety related to the incubator settings.

Researchers are evaluating the need for antibiotic prevention in patients with chronic liver disease who have gastric varices and are treated with elective endoscopic injection of cyanoacrylate GVO. Gastric varices can cause serious bleeding with a high chance of rebleeding and mortality. While endoscopic injection of tissue glue is effective in stopping acute bleeding, it still carries risks of rebleeding and infection, which are important concerns for patients with weakened immune systems due to liver conditions. The study compares two groups one receiving an antibiotic called ertapenem injected intravenously before the endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection, and the other not receiving this antibiotic before the procedure. The trial is randomized and aims to clarify whether giving this antibiotic can help prevent infections and complications after GVO treatment. The treatment is delivered during an elective endoscopic procedure to manage gastric varices. Participants will be monitored for three years to evaluate key outcomes such as the prevention of sepsis, rebleeding rates, refractory bacterial infections, and mortality. Assessments will include tracking infections and bleeding events over time. The study is designed to provide long-term data on the benefits and risks of using antibiotic prophylaxis in this patient group, with ongoing safety monitoring throughout the follow-up period.

Heat stroke is a serious condition caused by an imbalance between heat production and loss in the body, often triggered by exposure to hot, humid environments or intense exercise. It is characterized by a core body temperature above 40C and brain dysfunction, often leading to damage in multiple organs. The severity depends on the highest temperature reached and how long the body remains overheated. Rapidly lowering body temperature can stop cell damage, reverse organ problems, and improve recovery. However, there is currently no standardized method for emergency teams to manage body temperature effectively in these patients. This study evaluates a new early in-hospital temperature management protocol developed to guide rapid cooling and precise temperature control for heat stroke patients. The protocol includes early detection, selection of cooling methods, target temperature management, and ongoing monitoring. Patients in the experimental group will be treated using this protocol, while data from patients treated with previous standard methods between 2021 and 2022 will be collected retrospectively as a comparison. Participants admitted with heat stroke will be closely monitored for their cooling rate and body temperature within the first 30 minutes and at two hours. Researchers will also track survival rates in the hospital and at three months, along with any complications that arise. The total observation period for outcomes extends to three months, helping evaluate the protocols impact on patient recovery and safety over time.

Extreme heat events pose a serious health risk in Canada, particularly highlighted by the 2021 heat wave that caused over 600 deaths. Most heat-related fatalities occur indoors and are preventable. This trial evaluates whether sending tailored digital health messages from primary care providers to their patients can encourage protective behaviors against heat-related illnesses. The study also aims to enhance collaboration between primary care and public health to improve community resilience and reduce health disparities related to extreme heat. The study is a cluster randomized controlled trial involving primary care practices in Eastern Ontario. Patients in the intervention group will receive personalized digital messages encouraging heat safety behaviors, such as creating heat safety plans and forming social support groups, along with alerts during heat advisories. The control group will receive digital messages unrelated to heat waves. Messages are sent via email or text, in English or French. The trial will follow participants for up to two years to assess behavioral changes and heat-related health impacts. Participants will be adults registered with participating primary care providers who have had recent visits and can receive digital messages. Data collection includes patient surveys, electronic medical records, and health administrative data to measure behavior changes and healthcare use during heat events. Researchers will assess awareness, preparedness, and health outcomes related to heat exposure. The study also monitors engagement with messages and aims to develop scalable heat adaptation strategies for vulnerable populations.

Increasing heat exposure caused by climate change is affecting communities worldwide, especially those living in poor housing conditions such as informal settlements and low-income households. This research aims to study the impact of applying sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings on indoor temperatures and overall health. The trial is a global, multi-center, cluster-randomized controlled study conducted in five urban climate hotspots across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, where heat exposure and vulnerable housing conditions pose significant health risks. The study compares households that receive a cool roof coating, which reflects sunlight and reduces indoor heat, with those that keep their original roofs. The cool roof coating works by reflecting ultraviolet and visible sunlight and radiating absorbed heat, thus lowering indoor temperatures and energy use. The trial will run over a 12-month period, including the hottest months of the year, to measure the effects on health, indoor environment, and economic outcomes. Participants will undergo repeated measurements including resting heart rate, blood glucose control, depression symptoms, and various health and environmental factors over the course of the study. Data will be collected at baseline and multiple times during the hottest months and alternate months. Researchers will monitor indoor air temperature, humidity, heat index, and household energy use continuously. The study seeks to provide evidence on whether cool roofs can improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing in vulnerable populations facing extreme heat.

Climate change involves rising global temperatures, melting glaciers, and warmer oceans, leading to increased greenhouse gases like nitrogen and carbon dioxide that harm air and water quality. These changes contribute to extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods, and hurricanes. This research focuses on understanding how climate change and air pollution affect individuals with chronic lung diseases including COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, and interstitial lung disease. The study aims to assess patients awareness of climate change, heat waves, air pollution, and how these factors interact with their physical activity, anxiety, and depression levels.

Researchers are investigating how providing air conditioners and educational resources affects heat-related stress, mental health, and healthcare use among older adults living in high-risk neighborhoods without home cooling. This randomized stepped wedge trial focuses on adults aged 55 to 95 who have chronic health conditions or recent hospitalizations and may face material hardships. The study aims to understand how air conditioning impacts health and usage patterns during hot weather. Participants are randomly assigned to receive window-mounted air conditioning units and an electricity cost subsidy either in the first or second year. Both groups receive heat health education and cooling kits at baseline. The trial spans two warm seasons, comparing those with and without AC in the first summer, then evaluating the effect of electricity subsidies in the second year when all have AC units. Throughout the study, participants complete surveys assessing heat stress, mental health, and healthcare utilization. Environmental sensors continuously record indoor temperature and air quality, while AC use is tracked via monitoring devices. The primary outcome is self-reported health status measured by a modified Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire, supplemented by assessments of thermal comfort, mood, emergency visits, and hospitalizations. Data collection occurs before and after interventions each summer, supporting a comprehensive evaluation over approximately two years.