Heat waves

In the project led by Sagi Shashar (Shashar et al, 2018) the researchers investigated the seasonality of snakebites and evaluated the possible effect of heat waves on snakebite frequency. All medical evacuations (2008–2015) because of snakebites in Israel were analyzed. The team reported an association between an increase in snakebite cases and higher temperatures and lower humidity. The heat waves appeared to increase snakebites frequency both in cold and hot seasons.
Our team led by Iftach Sagy (Sagy et al, 2016) inspected an association between heat waves and renal function in elderly population taking thiazide and/or ACE-inhibitors/ARBs. The researchers investigated renal function in 26,286 admissions of the study population to the local hospital (2006-2011) and its association with ambient temperature. The analysis showed that not only heat waves, but a durable increase in temperature was associated with a decreased renal function.