Cardiovascular-related deaths due to extreme heat are expected to increase between 2036 and 2065 in the United States, according to a new study published on Monday.
The study, supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, predicts that adults ages 65 and older and Black adults will likely be disproportionately affected.
While extreme heat currently accounts for less than 1 percent of cardiovascular-related deaths, the modeling analysis predicted this will change because of a projected rise in summer days that feel at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit (about 32 degrees Celsius).
A sign displays an unofficial temperature as jets taxi at Sky Harbor International Airport at dusk, July 12, 2023, in Phoenix, U.S. /CFP
Older adults and black adults will be most vulnerable because many have underlying medical conditions or face socio-economic barriers that can influence their health - such as not having air conditioning or living in locations that can absorb and trap heat, according to the study published in Circulation.
"The health burdens from extreme heat will continue to grow within the next several decades," said Sameed A. Khatana, a study author, cardiologist, and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Due to the unequal impact of extreme heat on different populations, this is also a matter of health equity and could exacerbate health disparities that already exist."