Have health inequities, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change led to the deadliest heatwave in France since 2003?

OBJECTIVES: Between 2015 and 2019, 5700 excess deaths were observed during heatwaves in France. The summer of 2020 combined exceptionally high temperatures with the COVID-19 pandemic. The associated health impacts of this unique situation are described in this study. STUDY DESIGN: This is an observa...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Pascal, M., Lagarrigue, R., Laaidi, K., Boulanger, G., Denys, S.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. 2021
Materias:
Short Communication
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8462812/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33894555
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.02.012
Descripción
Sumario:OBJECTIVES: Between 2015 and 2019, 5700 excess deaths were observed during heatwaves in France. The summer of 2020 combined exceptionally high temperatures with the COVID-19 pandemic. The associated health impacts of this unique situation are described in this study. STUDY DESIGN: This is an observational study based on indicators of the French heat prevention plan. METHODS: Mortality and morbidity data during heatwaves were compared between 2020 and previous years, alongside COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: In total, 1921 additional deaths (+18.2%) were observed during the 2020 heatwaves, which is the largest number of deaths observed since 2003. Less than 100 deaths were attributed to COVID-19 during the heatwaves of 2020. CONCLUSIONS: Exceptionally high temperatures driven by climate change, combined with health inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 outbreak, may have increased vulnerability to heat in 2020.

Ejemplares similares