Canberra: A new study has revealed that extreme heat is a significant contributor to heart disease in Australia, responsible for 7.3% of the country’s total cardiovascular disease burden. Between 2003 and 2018, hot weather resulted in nearly 50,000 years of healthy life lost annually, with South Australia suffering the most and the Northern Territory the least, according to the research funded by the Adelaide University China Fee Scholarships and the Australian Research Council Discovery Program.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, predicts that the burden of cardiovascular disease linked to heat will continue to rise. By the 2050s, under a high-emissions scenario, this burden is expected to more than double compared to current levels, with the Northern Territory facing the greatest increase.
Bi Peng, the lead researcher from the University of Adelaide’s Public Health and Environmental Medicine department, explained that extreme heat forces the heart to work harder to cool the body, which can be dangerous, especially for those with pre-existing heart conditions. While the exact number of people affected by severe heart disease or premature death due to rising temperatures is uncertain, the study stresses the growing importance of addressing this issue.
The study highlights the need for strategies to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat, such as urban cooling projects, public health awareness campaigns, and emergency response systems during heatwaves. Although the research focuses on Australia, Bi emphasized that the connection between heat and heart disease is a global concern, and investing in climate change mitigation and adaptation could help reduce the future impact of heat-related cardiovascular issues worldwide.