‘Woefully unprepared’: extreme heat will double US hospitalizations by 2040, study finds
Summary
A new study predicts that heat-related hospital visits in the US will more than double by 2040, rising from about 109,000 cases a year to around 237,000. This increase will nearly double healthcare costs linked to extreme heat, with poorer and vulnerable populations facing the greatest risks due to rising temperatures and higher energy costs.Key Facts
- Heat-related emergency visits and hospitalizations in the US are expected to increase to about 237,000 annually by 2040.
- Annual healthcare costs for heat-related illnesses could exceed $1 billion by then.
- Extreme heat causes more deaths in the US each year than all other types of extreme weather combined.
- Poorer people and those with existing health problems are more at risk because they may lack air conditioning or live in poorly cooled homes.
- The study examined 53 major US cities and found California and Las Vegas will face the highest number of heat-related health issues.
- Areas not used to extreme heat, like the northeast and Ohio Valley, may see the worst health impacts during heat waves.
- Higher energy prices and cuts to government programs designed to help cities manage extreme heat could worsen the problem.
- US households face rising electricity bills, making it harder for many to afford air conditioning during hot spells.
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