Preparing for Winter Cold Waves... Operation of the 'Cold-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System' Begins

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 30th that it will operate the 'Cold-related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System' from next month until February 29 of next year to monitor health damage caused by cold waves during the winter season.

The Cold-related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System involves over 500 emergency room-operating medical institutions nationwide cooperating with local public health centers, city/provincial governments, and the KDCA to identify patients visiting emergency rooms with cold-related illnesses and monitor health impacts caused by cold waves.

In the previous season (22-23), a total of 447 cold-related illness cases (with an estimated 12 deaths) were reported through the surveillance system. This represents a 49.0% increase in patients compared to the 21-22 season. Men (67.8%) outnumbered women (32.2%), and the elderly aged 65 and over accounted for the largest proportion at 42.3%.

By disease type, hypothermia accounted for the largest share at 67.1% of all patients. It occurred in 44.3% of elderly patients aged 70 and above. Additionally, all estimated causes of death (12 cases) from cold-related illnesses were attributed to hypothermia. Localized cold injuries accounted for 32.9% of the total cases, mainly occurring in young people in their teens and twenties at 37.4%.

By region, the number of reported patients was highest in Gyeonggi with 98 cases (20.8%), followed by Gangwon with 62 cases (13.9%), Seoul with 51 cases (11.4%), and Chungnam with 36 cases (8.1%). Outdoor activities such as on the roadside, around residences, and in mountains accounted for 79.9% of occurrences, while indoor occurrences such as at home accounted for 14.8%. The time of occurrence was mostly during the morning hours (0?9 a.m.) when temperatures drop, accounting for 40.5% of all patients.

Ji Young-mi, Commissioner of the KDCA, urged, "This winter is expected to have periods of significant temperature drops according to climate forecasts, so preparation for cold-related illnesses is necessary." She added, "The KDCA will continue to cooperate with participating medical institutions and local governments until February next year to promptly disclose information on disease occurrence caused by cold waves."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.