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Updated: Jan 29, 2026
A Preclinical Model of Exertional Heat Stroke in Mice
Published on: July 1, 2021
The association between heat stroke and subsequent cardiovascular diseases
Jen-Chun Wang1,2, Wu-Chien Chien3,4,5, Pauling Chu6
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Insights
Heat stroke (HS) significantly increases the risk of subsequent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke. This study highlights the critical link between heat exposure and long-term heart health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Critical illnesses are linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- Research on heat-related illnesses (HRIs) and subsequent CVDs is limited.
- The association between heat stroke (HS) and CVD incidence requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between heat stroke (HS) and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
- To compare CVD incidence in patients with HS, other HRIs, and a control group.
- To identify specific CVDs associated with prior HS.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study.
- Utilized data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.
- Compared cumulative CVD incidence over a 14-year follow-up in HS, other HRI, and control groups.
Main Results:
- Patients with HS showed a significantly higher incidence of CVDs (32.67%) compared to other HRIs (23.33%) and controls (16.67%).
- HS was associated with increased incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
- Increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was observed in HS and other HRI patients.
Conclusions:
- Prior heat stroke (HS) is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
- Specifically, HS increases the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
- Heat stroke and other HRIs are also linked to an increased incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Background:
Recent studies have indicated that several critical illnesses are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Nonetheless, studies of the association between heat-related illnesses (HRIs) and subsequent CVDs are still limited. We sought to evaluate whether heat stroke (HS) was associated with an increased CVD incidence.
Methods:
The data from the nationwide, population-based, retrospective, cohort study described herein were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. The outcome evaluated in this study was the cumulative incidence of CVDs, which was compared between patients with HS, patients with other HRIs and a control group during a 14-year follow-up period.
Results:
Our analyses included 150 HS cases, 150 patients with other HRIs and 150 patients without HRIs. The HS patients had a significantly higher incidence of developing CVDs than the other HRI and control patients (32.67% vs. 23.33% vs. 16.67%, p = 0.005). Patients with HS had an increased incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared with that of the controls (6% vs. 2.67%, p = 0.042) and an increased incidence of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) compared with those of the other HRI and control patients (12% vs. 6% vs. 4.67%, p = 0.038). An increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was also found in the patients with HS and other HRIs compared to that in the controls (17.33% vs. 14.67% vs. 6.67%, p = 0.016).
Conclusion:
Prior HS was associated with an increased incidence of CVDs, particularly AMI and AIS, and an increased incidence of CKD.
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