The Impact of Heatwaves on Fall-Related Ambulance Attendances in Queensland: A Retrospective Population-Based Study

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, with well-established impacts on mortality and heat-related illness. However, their influence on unintentional injuries, including falls, is less understood. This study examined the association between heatwaves and fall-related ambulance attendances in Queensland, Australia. A retrospective population-based study was conducted using Queensland Ambulance Service attendance data from 2010–2019. Attendances were classified as fall-related if a fall was indicated in any of the dispatch, diagnosis, injury-cause, or case-classification fields, regardless of if this was based on caller report or paramedic assessment. Heatwaves were defined using the Bureau of Meteorology’s Excess Heat Factor and classified by severity. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) compared fall-related ambulance attendances on heatwave and non-heatwave days, with stratification by age, sex, rurality, heatwave severity, and warm-season month. Across the study period, 323,254 fall-related ambulance attendances were recorded. Overall incidence did not differ between heatwave and non-heatwave days (IRR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.99–1.00). Extreme heatwaves were associated with an 11% increase in attendances (IRR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.06–1.17), with elevated risks observed among adults aged 45–74 years and residents of outer regional areas. Extreme heatwaves contribute to increased fall-related ambulance demand in Queensland. Recognising falls as part of the broader heat-related morbidity burden allows for targeted prevention strategies and enhances preparedness for extreme heat events.