Heat-related deaths in the United States have sharply increased in recent years, reversing a prior decline, according to new CDC data.
Published on August 26 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the findings show a significant rise in fatalities from extreme heat between 2016 and 2023.
The data spanning from 1999 to 2023 initially showed a slight but steady decline in heat-related deaths.
However, since 2016, the numbers have sharply increased, aligning with the intensification of summer heat across the nation.
“As temperatures continue to rise because of climate change, the recent increasing trend is likely to continue,” warned Jeffrey Howard, the study’s lead author and an associate professor of public health at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Currently, extreme heat claims the lives of approximately 1,220 Americans each year, with the elderly, small children, and those with mental illness or chronic diseases being the most vulnerable.
However, the CDC also notes that even healthy individuals can be at risk if they engage in strenuous activities during hot weather.
Howard’s team found that between 1999 and 2015, the rate of heat-related deaths per 100,000 people remained below 0.4. For instance, in 2014, the rate was just 0.12 per 100,000.
But as summers grew hotter, the death rate climbed: from 0.22 in 2016 to 0.41 by 2021, and a notable spike to 0.62 per 100,000 in 2023—a fivefold increase from 2014.
The researchers pointed out that 2023 recorded the warmest average global temperature since 1850, underscoring the impact of climate change on public health.
This rise in heat-related fatalities in the U.S. mirrors a global trend, as countries worldwide grapple with similar increases.
With temperatures expected to continue rising, the study highlights the need for proactive measures to protect the most vulnerable populations.
Howard’s team suggests that local authorities in high-risk areas should expand access to hydration and cooling centers, particularly in buildings equipped with air conditioning, to mitigate the effects of extreme heat.
As the data indicates, without significant changes to current global warming trends, heat-related deaths are likely to keep rising, posing an increasing threat to public health across the nation.