More than 47,000 individuals in Europe succumbed to heat-related causes last year, CBS News reports, citing recent findings by Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) released by Nature Medicine.
the study analyzed historical temperature and mortality data from 35 countries to reach its findings. The year 2023 has already set temperature records, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasting a one-in-three chance that 2024 will surpass it.
A total of 47,690 estimated deaths occurred from late May to early October 2023, with more than half of these fatalities during two extreme heat waves in mid-July and late August, the researchers said.
In a previous study, ISGlobal had estimated over 60,000 heat-related deaths in Europe for 2022. The 2023 data indicated that southern European nations, particularly Greece, Bulgaria, and Italy, faced the highest death tolls.
The study found that women and the elderly were disproportionately affected, with mortality rates 55% higher for women and an alarming 768% higher for those aged 80 and above compared to individuals aged 65-79.
Despite the alarming numbers, researchers noted a potential silver lining: societal adaptations over the last century have likely saved thousands of lives, particularly among the elderly.
“These adaptations have significantly reduced heat-related vulnerability and mortality during recent summers,” Elisa Gallo, one of the survey’s researchers, said.
The report outlines critical concerns as Europe sees a tourism boom, with a 55% increase in visitors from 2022 to 2023. However, regions like Greece are grappling with debilitating droughts, wildfires, and record temperatures, raising safety concerns for both locals and travelers.
Experts assert that heat-related deaths may be underreported, often not documented as primary causes unless due to heat stroke. Dr. Gounder noted that patients may arrive at hospitals for conditions like heart attacks or respiratory issues without heat being recognized as a contributing factor.
Epidemiologist Kristie Ebi outlined the importance of the study’s method, known as “excess death analysis,” in accurately assessing the risks associated with high temperatures. “This approach helps us understand the magnitude of the challenge without getting lost in individual cases,” she said.
The US Department of Health and Human Services reported 2,302 recorded heat-related deaths in 2023, although these figures are different from these Nature Medicine study.
