A team of international researchers led by Monash University concluded that abnormal temperatures across the globe have caused more than 5 million extra deaths annually.

The relevant paper was published in the Lancet Planetary Health on Thursday.

The study, led by Professor Guo Yuming and Dr. Li Shanshan from Monash University, and Dr. Zhao Qi from China's Shandong University, examined temperature related deaths in 43 countries across the globe from 2000 to 2019.

The research marked the first time a link has been made between non-optimal temperatures and increased mortality rates, while also showing the geographical spread of the data.

"Importantly, we used 43 countries' baseline data across five continents with different climates, socioeconomic and demographic conditions and differing levels of infrastructure and public health services -- so the study had a large and varied sample size, unlike previous studies," said Guo.

The study found that 9.43 percent of global deaths could be attributed to abnormal temperatures. As for the geographic differences in the impact of non-optimal temperatures on mortality, Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest heat and cold-related excess death rates.

The research revealed that of Australia's 16,500 annual temperature related deaths, just 2,300 (14 percent) were from the heat while 14,200 were from the cold.

Guo said that while global warming may "slightly reduce" temperature related deaths in the short term due to less cold-related deaths (a drop of 0.51 percent from 2000 to 2019), however in the long-term climate change is expected to increase the mortality burden because hot-related mortality would be continuing to increase.

Given previous studies of this nature have been confined to a single country or region, Guo said taking data from all points of the globe would help get a more accurate understanding of the real impact of non-optimal temperatures under climate change. And understanding of the geographic patterns of temperature-related mortality "is important for the international collaboration in developing policies and strategies in climate change mitigation and adaptation and health protection."

(Cover image via VCG)

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