Extreme Heat Projected to Cause More Excess Cardiovascular Deaths by Midcentury
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Oct. 30, 2023 -- By midcentury, extreme heat is projected to be associated with large increases in excess cardiovascular deaths, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in Circulation.
Sameed Ahmed M. Khatana, M.D., M.P.H., from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues examined the burden of extreme heat-associated cardiovascular deaths in the United States using data on cardiovascular deaths among adults and the number of extreme heat days in each county in the United States from 2008 to 2019. County-level projected numbers of extreme heat days and populations under two scenarios were obtained for the midcentury period (2036 to 2065): shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP)2-4.5 (representing demographic projections from a middle-of-the-road socioeconomic scenario and intermediate emission increase) and SSP5-8.5 (demographic projections in a fossil-fueled development-based economy and large increase in emissions). The association of cardiovascular mortality with extreme heat was estimated.
The researchers found that from 2008 to 2019, extreme heat was associated with 1,651 excess cardiovascular deaths per year. Extreme heat is projected to be associated with 4,320 and 5,491 excess deaths annually by midcentury, representing increases of 162 and 233 percent under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, respectively. In the SSP2-4.5 scenario, elderly adults are projected to have a 3.5 times greater increase in deaths compared with nonelderly adults, and non-Hispanic Blacks are projected to have a 4.6 times greater increase versus non-Hispanic Whites.
"Clinical and community-based mitigation strategies, along with global efforts to confront climate change, are needed to address this growing public health issue," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to Abiomed and Biosense Webster.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2023
Read this next
BMI Cutoff of 30 for Obesity May Be Too High for Middle-Aged, Older Adults
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- The optimal body mass index (BMI) cutoff point appears to be 27 kg/m2 for detecting obesity in middle-aged and older adults, according to a study presented...
Emergency Inguinal Hernia Surgery Rates Increased With Lower Country Income
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- For patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery, emergency surgery rates increase from high- to low-income countries, according to a study published online...
Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels Higher in Black Than White Women
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels are higher in Black than White pregnant women, supporting the use of accounting for these differences in...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.