Evaluation of Buller Estimated Core Body Temperature Algorithm Accuracy in Construction and Agricultural Workers

This project involves collaboration with researchers at UT and NIOSH and uses existing Spector data

There has been little study of the accuracy of the Buller algorithm* in vulnerable working populations such as outdoor agricultural or construction workers or in samples that include female or older workers. Climate change threatens to increase the risk of adverse heat health effects in outdoor workers over time, and the frequency and intensity of heat waves is projected to increase locally and globally. The potential impact of heat stress on outdoor agricultural and construction workers is substantial. The development of more practical methods for assessing physiological heat strain outcomes in these populations is needed in order to characterize risk, evaluate the effectiveness of heat prevention interventions, and guide management, with the goal of reducing the rate of adverse heat health effects.

Broad scientific objective:

• To assess the accuracy of the Buller algorithm in estimating core body temperature in outdoor workers

Aims:

• Our primary aim is to characterize the bias and limits of agreement for the Buller algorithm in estimating core body temperature, compared to gastrointestinal temperature (gold standard), in a total sample of construction and agricultural workers
• Our secondary aim is to develop ROC curves and evaluate test characteristics for estimated core body temperature, compared to gastrointestinal temperature (gold standard)-based thresholds

*Buller MJ, Tharion WJ, Cheuvront SN, Montain SJ, Kenefick RW, Castellani J et al. Estimation of human core temperature from sequential heart rate observations. Physiol Meas 2013; 34: 781–798.