A new study published May 14 in ‘PLOS Medicine’ has revealed that between 1990 and 2019, every year more than 150,000 deaths worldwide have been related to heat waves.
The data, analyzed by Yuming Guo and his team at Monash University in Australia, show how heat waves have imposed a thermal stress significant impact on the global population, resulting in an alarming number of deaths.
The research was based on the Multi-Country Multi-City (MCC) Collaborative Research Network, which collected death tolls and temperatures daily from 750 locations in 43 countries.
This comprehensive study provides a global perspective on the heat waves and its deadly impact over three decades, an extensive period that allows for more precise comparisons and analyzes than those carried out in previous research focused on isolated events and specific regions.
Between 1990 and 2019, it is estimated that the excess deaths attributable to heat waves It was 153,078 annual deaths. This is equivalent to 236 deaths per ten million inhabitants, or 1% of the total population. deaths worldwide.
The analysis highlights that, although Asia recorded the highest number of deaths, Europe had the highest rate. high mortality adjusted by population, with 655 deaths per ten million inhabitants.
Particularly affected regions include southern and eastern Europe, as well as areas spanning from North Africa to South Asia. Countries such as Greece, Malta and Italy showed the higher excess mortality rates.
This study highlights the geographic variability of deaths related to heat waves, which are especially prevalent in areas with dry climates and lower middle incomes.
These findings are crucial for the development of local adaptation and risk management strategies, particularly in the context of the climate change.
The authors of the study call on the authorities to implement urgent measures to reduce the impact of the heat waves in public health. These measures include:
Climate change mitigation: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming and the frequency and intensity of heat waves.
Action plans against heat: Implement heat early warning systems, emergency response plans and public awareness campaigns.
Urban planification: Design cooler, heat-resilient cities, including the incorporation of green spaces and the promotion of shaded buildings.
Social support programs: Provide support to the most vulnerable populations, such as seniors, children, and people with chronic illnesses.
Strengthening health systems: Improve the capacity of health systems to respond to an increase in demand for health care during heat waves.
This global analysis provides a solid foundation to better understand the unequal impacts of heat waves on human health and underlines the urgent need for effective policies that protect the most vulnerable populations in an increasingly hot world.
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