Climate Change and Heat-related Illness in Older Adults: Implications for Emergency Medicine.
- 1Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Department of Emergency Medicine, Akron, Ohio.
- 2Cleveland Clinic, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Abstract
Climate change is increasing the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme heat events, creating a growing public health threat for older adults. Age-related physiologic decline, comorbid chronic diseases, polypharmacy, and social vulnerability all contribute to reduced heat tolerance and higher rates of heat-related morbidity and mortality. Emergency departments (ED) are increasingly encountering older adults presenting with minor heat illness, heat stroke, and exacerbations of chronic illnesses triggered by heat exposure. This review synthesizes current evidence describing why older adults are disproportionately affected by extreme heat, highlights key social and environmental determinants of vulnerability, and outlines clinical and public health strategies that emergency clinicians and EDs can assist with to reduce risk. As global temperatures rise, proactive prevention, early recognition, and coordinated community interventions are essential to protect this high-risk population.
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BibTeX
@article{simon2026climate,
title = {{Climate Change and Heat-related Illness in Older Adults: Implications for Emergency Medicine.}},
author = {Erin L Simon and Kevin Watkins and Stephen Meldon},
journal = {The western journal of emergency medicine},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.5811/westjem.54008},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900944},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Climate Change and Heat-related Illness in Older Adults: Implications for Emergency Medicine.
AU - Erin L Simon
AU - Kevin Watkins
AU - Stephen Meldon
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/17
JO - The western journal of emergency medicine
DO - 10.5811/westjem.54008
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900944
AB - Climate change is increasing the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme heat events, creating a growing public health threat for older adults. Age-related physiologic decline, comorbid chronic diseases, polypharmacy, and social vulnerability all contribute to reduced heat tolerance and higher rates of heat-related morbidity and mortality. Emergency departments (ED) are increasingly encountering older adults presenting with minor heat illness, heat stroke, and exacerbations of chronic illnesses triggered by heat exposure. This review synthesizes current evidence describing why older adults are disproportionately affected by extreme heat, highlights key social and environmental determinants of vulnerability, and outlines clinical and public health strategies that emergency clinicians and EDs can assist with to reduce risk. As global temperatures rise, proactive prevention, early recognition, and coordinated community interventions are essential to protect this high-risk population.
SN - 1936-900X
SN - 1936-9018
ER -