Extreme Heat May Drive Asthma Risk in Baltimore, Especially at Night
A new study paints a fuller picture of how heat affects respiratory health, especially in Baltimore’s socially vulnerable neighborhoods.
A recent study published in GeoHealth reveals that extreme heat may increase the risk of asthma hospitalizations in Baltimore, particularly during nighttime hours. The research, conducted by Corpuz et al., analyzed location-specific temperature data in conjunction with emergency room records from Johns Hopkins hospitals. Between 2016 and 2022, the researchers identified 695 pediatric and 819 adult asthma-related hospitalizations during the summer months.
By using a more precise 1-meter-scale mapping system, the study detected a higher number of neighborhood-scale heat events compared to previous research that relied solely on data from a single weather station. The findings suggest that prolonged nighttime heat waves are linked to a higher risk of asthma hospitalizations, indicating that urban heat exposure disproportionately impacts the respiratory health of Baltimore residents, especially in socially vulnerable neighborhoods.
The researchers recommend modifying Baltimore's heat alerts to account for the dangers of nighttime heat and the specific risks faced by different neighborhoods.
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