Extreme heat linked to 33 diagnoses that go beyond dehydration and heatstroke
When temperatures spike, emergency physicians expect to see more cases of dehydration and heatstroke. But a new Northwestern University study suggests that extreme heat also is linked to a much wider range of health problems seen in emergency departments and urgent care clinics, including skin conditions, multiple sclerosis and even injuries from traffic accidents.
A recent Northwestern University study has revealed a far broader range of health issues linked to extreme heat exposure than previously understood. During a 13-year period in Chicago, researchers examined 1.8 million emergency department and urgent care visits, identifying 33 diagnoses associated with high heat, beyond the well-known heatstroke and dehydration.
These additional conditions encompassed a variety of skin disorders, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, mental health issues, injuries from traffic accidents, and assault-related injuries. Dr. Hyojung Jang, the study's corresponding author, emphasized the need to broaden public health efforts to account for these lesser-known heat-related health risks.
Co-author Dr. Daniel Horton suggested that extreme heat may also cause heightened aggression and distraction, contributing to more accidents. The study's novel approach, which utilized methods from genome-wide association studies, could serve as a model for analyzing heat-related health impacts in other cities and regions.
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