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Peer-reviewedCC BYCell Reports Sustainability

Disparities in heatwave-related mortality and socioeconomic burden by single-person households in China

  • Yuxuan Tan1
  • Shouxin Peng1
  • Wenjun Ma2
  • Huaiyue Xu1
  • Wei Liang3
  • Mokuan Liu1
  • Hao Xiang4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Dong Fureng Institute of Economic and Social Development, School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
  2. 2Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, People's Republic of China
  3. 3School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
  4. 4Dong Fureng Institute of Economic and Social Development, School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China; Corresponding author
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Abstract

With heatwaves becoming more severe under climate change, elderly adults face rising mortality risks, but it remains unclear whether residence in a single-person household marks an additional vulnerability. Using data from three nationwide cohorts in China, we examine disparities in heatwave-related all-cause mortality among individuals aged 45 years and older and assess the associated health and socioeconomic burden. Among 49,912 participants from 210 cities, heatwave exposure is associated with higher all-cause mortality across alternative definitions. The association is stronger among individuals residing in single-person households than those residing in multi-person households. In 2020, heatwaves were associated with 68,922 attributable deaths in China, with more than 25% occurring among individuals residing in single-person households, corresponding to 63.46 billion USD. Future warming could widen the burden disparities through the 2080s. These findings identify single-person households as an emerging vulnerability factor for heatwave-health risk assessment and equitable climate adaptation in aging societies. Science for society: Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as the climate warms, posing growing risks to human health. Older adults are especially vulnerable, but not everyone faces the same level of danger. Individuals residing in single-person households may have less immediate support during extreme heat, making it harder to receive help, respond to warning messages, or access cooling resources in time. Using data from three nationwide cohort studies in China, this study shows that older adults residing in single-person households face a higher risk of dying during heatwaves compared with multi-person households. This difference also translates into a substantial share of heatwave-related deaths and economic losses at the population level, and the burden is projected to grow further under future warming. These findings highlight the need to incorporate single-person households in heat-health warning systems, community outreach, and climate adaptation planning, especially in rapidly aging societies where single-person households are becoming more common.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{tan2026disparities,
  title = {{Disparities in heatwave-related mortality and socioeconomic burden by single-person households in China}},
  author = {Yuxuan Tan and Shouxin Peng and Wenjun Ma and Huaiyue Xu and Wei Liang and Mokuan Liu and Hao Xiang},
  journal = {Cell Reports Sustainability},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100833},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100833},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Disparities in heatwave-related mortality and socioeconomic burden by single-person households in China
AU  - Yuxuan Tan
AU  - Shouxin Peng
AU  - Wenjun Ma
AU  - Huaiyue Xu
AU  - Wei Liang
AU  - Mokuan Liu
AU  - Hao Xiang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/25
JO  - Cell Reports Sustainability
DO  - 10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100833
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100833
AB  - With heatwaves becoming more severe under climate change, elderly adults face rising mortality risks, but it remains unclear whether residence in a single-person household marks an additional vulnerability. Using data from three nationwide cohorts in China, we examine disparities in heatwave-related all-cause mortality among individuals aged 45 years and older and assess the associated health and socioeconomic burden. Among 49,912 participants from 210 cities, heatwave exposure is associated with higher all-cause mortality across alternative definitions. The association is stronger among individuals residing in single-person households than those residing in multi-person households. In 2020, heatwaves were associated with 68,922 attributable deaths in China, with more than 25% occurring among individuals residing in single-person households, corresponding to 63.46 billion USD. Future warming could widen the burden disparities through the 2080s. These findings identify single-person households as an emerging vulnerability factor for heatwave-health risk assessment and equitable climate adaptation in aging societies. Science for society: Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as the climate warms, posing growing risks to human health. Older adults are especially vulnerable, but not everyone faces the same level of danger. Individuals residing in single-person households may have less immediate support during extreme heat, making it harder to receive help, respond to warning messages, or access cooling resources in time. Using data from three nationwide cohort studies in China, this study shows that older adults residing in single-person households face a higher risk of dying during heatwaves compared with multi-person households. This difference also translates into a substantial share of heatwave-related deaths and economic losses at the population level, and the burden is projected to grow further under future warming. These findings highlight the need to incorporate single-person households in heat-health warning systems, community outreach, and climate adaptation planning, especially in rapidly aging societies where single-person households are becoming more common.
SN  - 2949-7906
ER  -