Extreme temperatures cause higher mortality for vulnerable groups

Extreme cold and extreme heat cause excess mortality rates that are more than tenfold higher among adults facing both pre-existing medical conditions and socioeconomic disadvantage, according to News-Medical. The findings come from a research project that tracked 285,444 adults located across Finland and the United Kingdom. [1]

The researchers investigated how chronic disease interacts with social vulnerability when individuals face severe thermal stress. News-Medical reported that individuals who possessed only one risk factor, or neither, experienced a far lower rate of temperature-related mortality. [1]

Severe low temperatures can also trigger formal public safety alerts. An extreme cold warning is a weather notification issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada and the National Weather Service in the United States to alert residents about imminent severe cold in their immediate areas. [2]

Climate modelling in the study indicated that global warming of approximately 1°C to 4°C will increase health risks for these groups. News-Medical reported that the findings carry direct implications for developing targeted measures to protect vulnerable populations as global temperatures continue to warm. [1]