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High Temperatures and Cardiovascular-Related Morbidity: A Scoping Review.
Kendra R Cicci1, Alana Maltby1, Kristin K Clemens1,2,3,4,5
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON N6G 2M1, Canada.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|September 23, 2022
Summary
High temperatures show a consistent link to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospital visits, particularly for total CVD, acute myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke. Further research is needed, especially in Canada.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Rising global temperatures pose significant public health challenges.
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
- Understanding the impact of environmental factors like heat on CVD is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize existing research on the association between high ambient temperatures and cardiovascular disease-related hospital encounters.
- To identify specific CVD outcomes and populations most affected by heat.
- To highlight gaps in current knowledge and suggest future research directions, particularly within the Canadian context.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus) between April 2020 and March 2021.
- Inclusion criteria focused on English-language studies from North America and Europe examining the relationship between high temperatures and CVD hospital encounters (emergency department visits or hospitalizations).
- Studies including patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions were also considered.
Main Results:
- Twenty-two articles were included in the review, revealing inconsistent associations for some CVDs like ischemic heart disease and heart failure.
- Consistent evidence emerged linking high temperatures to increased hospital encounters for total CVD, hyper/hypotension, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and ischemic stroke.
- Factors such as age, sex, and gender were identified as potential modifiers of the heat-CVD relationship, while pre-existing conditions like heart failure and AMI did not consistently alter the association.
Conclusions:
- While evidence is inconsistent for certain CVDs, high temperatures are consistently associated with increased hospitalizations for several critical cardiovascular conditions.
- The influence of pre-existing hypertension on this relationship requires further investigation.
- Continued research is essential to refine our understanding of heat's impact on cardiovascular health, especially in specific geographic regions like Canada and among vulnerable populations with pre-existing CVD.
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