Climate Change and Heat-related Illness in Older Adults: Implications for Emergency Medicine.

Authors

Erin L Simon, Kevin Watkins, Stephen Meldon

Published in

The western journal of emergency medicine. Volume 27. Issue 5. Pages 1126-1130. Aug 17, 2026. Epub Aug 17, 2026.

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.

PMID:
42900944
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 21 Oct 2026.

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