Climate Extremes Lead to Over 69,000 Preventable Deaths in U.S.

Research conducted by investigators at Mass General Brigham has revealed that extreme temperatures have been responsible for over 69,000 preventable deaths across the United States in the past 25 years. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, this study highlights how both heat and cold exposure disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.

Senior author Shady Abohashem, MD, MPH, who is affiliated with the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center and the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute, emphasizes that this research provides a comprehensive assessment of temperature-related mortality. Previous studies primarily focused on heat or cold-related deaths in isolation; however, this investigation offers a detailed nationwide overview, capturing data across key demographic groups.

To arrive at these findings, Abohashem and his team analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WONDER platform. They examined death certificates from 1999 to 2024, identifying cases where extreme temperatures were recorded as either a contributing or underlying cause of death. Out of a total of 69,713,971 U.S. deaths during this period, 69,256 cases, or about 1 in 1,000, listed extreme temperature exposure as a factor. Among these, 35% were attributed to heat and 65% to cold.

The analysis indicated that mortality rates associated with temperature extremes have increased over recent years. Abohashem noted, “Our findings show that both heat and cold exposure continue to claim thousands of lives every year in the United States, deaths that are largely preventable.” He also pointed out that while cold-related deaths presently dominate, the rise in heat-related fatalities is expected to intensify as climate change progresses.

The research further reveals significant disparities in temperature-related mortality rates among different demographic groups. Older adults aged 65 and over, as well as males, exhibited higher mortality rates compared to their counterparts. Specifically, Black individuals faced the highest adjusted mortality rates associated with heat exposure, which were more than double those of white individuals. Cold-related adjusted mortality rates were similarly highest among Black individuals, followed by white and Hispanic populations.

Abohashem emphasizes the urgent need for targeted adaptation strategies to mitigate these risks. He advocates for improving housing quality, enhancing access to cooling and heating resources, and establishing early-warning systems as critical measures to protect vulnerable groups as climate extremes become more frequent. “The results help us understand which populations may be disproportionately affected so public health strategies can shift accordingly,” he stated.

This research serves as a crucial reminder of the serious health implications of climate change and the pressing need for effective public health responses to safeguard at-risk communities. The findings underscore the importance of addressing the root causes of climate extremes to prevent further loss of life.

For further information, refer to the study by Abohashem et al. titled “Temperature-related deaths in the U.S., 1999 – 2024,” published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The DOI for this study is 10.7326/ANNALS-25-01006.