Severe Heat Expected to More Than Double Heart Disease Cases in Australia by 2050

Synopsis

A recent study highlights that extreme heat is responsible for 7.3% of Australia's cardiovascular disease burden. Projections suggest this figure could more than double by 2050, particularly impacting the Northern Territory. Urgent adaptation and mitigation strategies are necessary to combat this growing health threat.

Key Takeaways

Extreme heat contributes to 7.3% of heart disease in Australia.
High-emission scenarios may double the burden of cardiovascular disease by the 2050s.
South Australia is the most affected region.
Urban cooling and public health campaigns are essential.
This issue is a global concern, requiring worldwide strategies.

Canberra, March 17 (NationPress) Severe heat significantly contributes to heart disease in Australia, accounting for 7.3 percent of the overall cardiovascular disease burden, according to a new study released on Monday.

From 2003 to 2018, extreme heat was responsible for nearly 50,000 years of healthy life lost each year, with South Australia facing the greatest impact and the Northern Territory the least, as per the research backed by Adelaide University China Fee Scholarships and the Australian Research Council Discovery Program.

With future climate projections, the cardiovascular disease burden is anticipated to increase steadily. By the 2050s, under a high-emissions scenario, this burden is expected to more than double relative to the baseline, particularly affecting the Northern Territory, the research published in the European Heart Journal revealed.

"When temperatures rise, our hearts must exert more effort to keep us cool. This added strain can be perilous, especially for individuals with existing cardiovascular conditions," stated Bi Peng, the lead researcher from the University of Adelaide Public Health and Environmental Medicine.

"Many of us have felt how a warming climate can impact our well-being, especially during prolonged periods of extreme heat," Bi noted, adding that the precise number of individuals with serious heart issues or those succumbing prematurely due to elevated temperatures remains unclear. Understanding how this burden will evolve in the future is critical.

By utilizing disability-adjusted life years to quantify lost healthy life due to illness or mortality, the study highlights the urgent need for adaptation and mitigation strategies, including urban cooling initiatives, public health campaigns, and emergency response measures on hot days, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

While the study primarily focuses on Australia, researchers emphasize that the connection between heat and heart disease is a global issue, with Bi adding that investing in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies could considerably lessen the future impact of heat-related cardiovascular disease worldwide.