Additional Coverage:
- Heat killed a record number of Americans last year (newsbreak.com)
Rising temperatures are leading to an increase in heat-related fatalities across the United States, a newly released study reports. The research, utilizing data from federal sources starting in 1999, highlights a worrisome trend with 2023 marking the highest number of heat deaths in the last two decades.
According to the study, featured in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), a record-breaking 2,325 deaths due to heat occurred in 2023. Experts believe this figure underestimates the true impact, as adjustments for the nation’s growing and aging population still yielded alarming results.
Jeffrey Howard, the study’s lead author and an associate professor of public health at the University of Texas at San Antonio, commented to USA TODAY on the significance of the findings, noting that the increase in deaths from heat is now becoming measureable, correlating with ongoing global warming trends.
The study, which also included researchers from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Maryland and Pennsylvania State University, analyzed death certificates from 1999 to 2023 where heat was cited as a primary or contributing cause of death. The data depicted a sharp rise in deaths beginning around 2016, often described metaphorically as a “hockey stick” pattern due to the rapid increase similar to the shape of a hockey stick, a term also used to describe the acceleration of global temperatures due to climate change.
The rate of heat-related deaths has seen a significant spike, even when accounting for age and population changes, highlighting a concerning trend. From an adjusted rate of 0.47 per 100,000 people in 2022, the rate jumped to 0.63 in 2023, marking it as the highest ever recorded.
Geographically, the fatalities were predominantly in typically hot regions such as Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas. Howard pointed out in an interview that the distribution of deaths is not uniform across the country.
The research brought up concerns about how heat-related deaths are classified by local authorities, suggesting that the actual numbers could be higher than reported. The awareness around the deadly risks of heat is growing, influencing how deaths are recorded.
Experts like Sameed Khatana, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, have emphasized the importance of accurate reporting on heat in death records to enhance understanding and prevention of heat-related deaths.
As the U.S. continues to experience sweltering temperatures, with heatwaves hitting various parts of the country in 2024, urgent calls are being made for local governments to improve public access to hydration and cooling resources.
Meteorological data continues to break records, with Phoenix experiencing its longest streak of days above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and numerous states recording their warmest July ever, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
With the global heat consistently setting records, Howard concluded, “It seems that things are getting worse and not better.”
Read More About This Story:
- Heat killed a record number of Americans last year (newsbreak.com)