Data Considerations for Estimating Ambient Heat Exposure for Environmental Epidemiological Studies
Emma L Gause1,2, Talia Feldscher3,4, Zachary Popp3,4
1Center for Climate and Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. egause@bu.edu.
Current Environmental Health Reports
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Extreme heat poses a significant public health risk. This review guides researchers in selecting appropriate meteorological data and heat metrics for epidemiological studies, emphasizing data availability and research questions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Climate Science
Background:
- Extreme heat events represent a growing public health concern globally.
- Epidemiological studies are crucial for understanding the health impacts of heat exposure.
- Standardized methods for heat assessment in research are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review meteorological data sets and metrics for estimating heat exposure in epidemiological research.
- To provide practical guidance for researchers new to the field of heat and health studies.
- To inform the selection of appropriate heat metrics based on research objectives and data availability.
Main Methods:
- Review of common meteorological data sources and heat metrics used in epidemiologic studies.
- Analysis of different approaches for operationalizing heat exposure (e.g., air temperature, heat indices).
- Consideration of factors influencing metric selection, including spatial/temporal resolution, data availability, and population coverage.
Main Results:
- Various methods exist for estimating heat exposure, differing in resolution, frequency, and coverage.
- Heat exposure is commonly operationalized as air temperature, with heat indices incorporating additional variables like humidity and wind.
- Defining heat waves, extreme heat thresholds, and urban considerations are important analytical choices.
Conclusions:
- No single heat metric is universally optimal; selection depends on the specific research question, population, and data.
- Researchers should carefully consider data characteristics and analytical choices to accurately assess heat-related health risks.
- Practical guidance is offered to aid investigators in choosing the most suitable heat data and metrics for their studies.
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