Heat-related ED visits have skyrocketed

For the study, researchers analyzed data on heat-related ED visits from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP) for each of the 10 HHS regions between January 2018 and December 2023.

Overall, researchers found that almost 120,000 heat-related ED visits were reported to NSSP in 2023, with over 90% occurring between May and September. However, the months with the highest risk of heat-related ED visits were July and August, which had risk levels three times higher than May, June, or September.

Every U.S. state had at least one day in 2023 where daily ED visits for heat-related illnesses were above the 95th percentile. The states with the highest rates of visits were Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. These states had nine times the risk of heat-related ED visits compared to New York and New Jersey.

Men were also more likely to experience heat-related illnesses than women. In 2023, the rate of heat-related ED visits for men was 271 per 100,000 visits, compared to 104 per 100,000 visits for women. Similarly, adults ages 18 to 64 had higher rates than those age 65 and older (207 to 222 per 100,000 visits vs. 120 to 173 per 100,000 visits, respectively).

In 2023, heat-related illnesses made up a 20% larger share of ED visits than they did during the 2018–2022 heat seasons. Between 2018 and 2022, 151 out of every 100,000 total ED visits were due to heat-related illnesses, but this increased to 180 out of every 100,000 visits in 2023.

According to CDC, this increase in heat-related ED visits was "consistent with record-breaking temperatures observed … in 2023." Last year was the warmest Earth has been in 150 years, and summer temperatures were the hottest on record.

Commentary

According to the study's authors, "[d]eaths and illnesses associated with heat exposure are a continuing public health concern as climate change results in longer, hotter, and more frequent episodes of extreme heat."

"The heat you were asked to manage 10 years ago is not the heat you're being asked to manage today," said Kristie Ebi, a professor at the University of Washington and an expert on the health risks of extreme heat.

Last year, HHS' Office of Climate Change and Health Equity partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to launch a dashboard that tracks EMS responses to 911 calls for heat-related injuries and illnesses.

"Heat is the most lethal of all types of extreme weather and heat exposure is worsening with increasing global warming," said John Balbus, acting director of HHS' Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. "But existing data on heat-related deaths don't shed light on where people actually fall ill. This new dashboard makes it possible to see where the needs are greatest, plan for the future, and save lives."

CDC has also used data from health departments to monitor heat-related health trends and issue public health alerts as needed.

"Near real-time monitoring of weather conditions and adverse health outcomes can guide public health practitioners' timing of risk communication and implementation of prevention measures associated with extreme heat," the study's authors wrote.

Hospitals have also begun preparing for heat-related illnesses ahead of time. According to Aneesh Narang, an emergency medicine physician at Banner-University Medical Center, hospital employees are currently evaluating protocols and working to ensure that they have enough supplies to care for the projected number of patients with heat illnesses this year.

"Every year now we're doing this earlier and earlier," Narang said. "We know that the chances are it’s going to be the same or worse."

Advisory Board's climate resources

To better understand the impact of climate change on healthcare, check out these Advisory Board resources:

Healthcare directly contributes to climate change, but cognitive biases may prevent leaders from taking action to reduce environmental harm. This research describes three common cognitive biases about climate change in the healthcare industry and outlines how leaders can combat them.

Similarly, this expert insight explains the five most common pushbacks to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts and the best way to combat them. We also have an infographic on how inaction on climate change will negatively impact organizations' bottom line.

Climate change can also negatively impact patients' health. These two expert insights explain how climate change is affecting patients' heart health and their risk of developing cancer.

For resources on environmental sustainability, read this emerging idea about how organizations can use green financing to fund sustainability initiatives, or listen to this Radio Advisory episode about Boston Medical Center's own green financing efforts. (McPhillips, CNN, 4/18; Weiland, New York Times, 4/18; Kekatos, ABC News, 4/18; Vaidyanathan et al., Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 4/18)