About Cold Weather Related Illness Data

This indicator estimates the number and rate of hospitalization and emergency department visits for cold stress. It includes all cases where cold stress is listed as a primary or other diagnosis. These data come from hospital records and may not capture the full range of cold weather related illness if exposure to excess cold is not explicitly documented. These data can be used to document changes over place and time, monitor vulnerable areas and populations and evaluate the results of local climate-adaptation strategies.

Our cold weather related illness data come from emergency department visits and hospitalizations. cold weather related illness data include:

  • Health outcome (cold stress)
  • State and county of residence
  • Year of hospitalization or emergency department visit

Our cold weather related illness data do not include:

  • Out-of-state residents whose illness occurred in Tennessee
  • Tennessee residents whose illness occurred out-of-state