The combination of rising global temperatures and the doubling of the world’s population aged over 60 will lead to more individuals in this age group experiencing heat-related health issues, as shown by a recent study.
Individuals over the age of 60 will bear the brunt of the most severe consequences of prolonged and increasingly frequent episodes of extreme heat globally, as the planet continues to warm, according to a study published in The Lancet Public Health and cited by the British newspaper The Guardian.
Heatwaves will affect a vast number of people of all ages worldwide, exposing them to uncompensated heat stress (UHS) - a condition in which the body loses its ability to cool down - and, consequently, to the risk of serious health problems, including death.
"Our findings suggest that, taking into account the specific vulnerability of each age group, unbearable heat conditions will occur on a much larger scale and for longer periods, affecting far more people than previously thought," the study coordinated by health specialists from Stanford University in California states.
What studies have not shown until now
It is known that elderly individuals are more exposed to risks associated with extremely high temperatures. They sweat less, their heart works harder in hot weather, and the ability of their blood vessels to dilate is reduced, limiting their ability to maintain an optimal body temperature.
However, previous studies have not adequately analyzed the different risks faced by young people (aged 15-39), middle-aged individuals (40-59), and the elderly (60 and over). This is because the critical thresholds beyond which the body can no longer regulate its temperature - thresholds that were correct for the young - were applied to all age groups, thus ignoring the higher risk of elderly individuals suffering, for example, a heart attack.
The combination of rising global temperatures and the projected doubling of the world's population aged over 60 - up to 2.1 billion by 2050 - will lead to more individuals in this age group experiencing heat-related health issues, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as India and Pakistan.
"Heat stress-related conditions (UHS) will become increasingly common as global warming progresses, affecting all age groups. It is estimated that the elderly will face much more frequent and widespread episodes of UHS than younger adults," the study states.
Every additional degree results in more victims
The study also indicates that elderly individuals are at risk of harmful and potentially fatal heat stress even at a warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, compared to the 4°C threshold for younger individuals.
Every additional degree of global warming exposes approximately one million more people to at least 180 hours of extreme heat stress (UHS) per year. This burden disproportionately affects the elderly, as stated in the study.
If warming continues to intensify, certain areas in tropical and subtropical regions could become uninhabitable, especially for the elderly, the authors specify.
T.D.