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ToolsYezli, Saber, Yassin, Yara, Ghallab, Sujoud, Abdullah, Mashan, Abuyassin, Bisher, Vishwakarma, Ramesh and Bouchama, Abderrezak (2024) Diagnosing and managing heat exhaustion: Insights from a systematic review of cases in the desert climate of Mecca. Reviews on Environmental Health, 39 (4). pp. 729-736. ISSN 0048-7554
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Heat exhaustion (HE) is a common, yet obscure, heat-related illness that affects millions of people yearly and its burden is projected to rise due to climate change. A comprehensive literature synthesis is lacking despite previous studies on various HE aspects. This systematic review aims to fill this gap by identifying and synthesizing available evidence on the risk factors, symptoms, biomarkers, treatment options, and outcomes for HE. The review focused on HE during the Muslim (Hajj) pilgrimage where the condition is endemic. We conducted a structured search of MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases. We summarized the data from eligible studies and synthesized them in narrative form using pooled descriptive statistics. Ten studies were included between 1980 and 2019, reporting over 1,194 HE cases. HE cases presented with elevated core temperature (up to 40°C) and mainly affected older males from the Middle East and North Africa region, with overweight individuals at a higher risk. Clinical symptoms included hyperventilation, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting, but not central nervous system disturbances. HE was associated with cardiac stress, and with water, electrolyte, and acid-base alterations. Cooling and hydration therapy were the primary management strategies, leading to a low mortality rate (pooled case fatality rate=0.11 % [95 % CI: 0.01, 0.3]). Most cases recovered within a few hours without complications. HE is associated with cardiac stress and changes in homeostasis, leading to distinct clinical symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment of HE are crucial in reducing the risk of complications and mortality. The review provides insights into the pathophysiology and outcomes of HE, adding to the scarce literature on the subject. Prospero registration number: CRD42022325759.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | The data supporting the findings of this review are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | climate change,emergency medicine,heat exhaustion,heatstroke,public health,symptoms,health(social science),pollution,public health, environmental and occupational health ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3306 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health (former - to 2025) |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Apr 2026 13:34 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Apr 2026 13:34 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/102775 |
| DOI: | 10.1515/reveh-2023-0059 |
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