The spectre of extreme heat in a warming climate has made the temperature–mortality relationship an area of extensive study. Temperature-related illnesses are an equally salient concern from a public health perspective, given the potentially large associated economic costs.
To address this issue, Claire Lay of Abt Associates, Inc., USA, and co-authors examine the relationship between daily maximum temperature and emergency room (ER) visits for heat-related illnesses using private insurance data for the United States. They then project ER visits for May–September temperatures under two RCP scenarios using five GCMs, and calculate the medical expenses for the projected visits. By 2050, an additional 21,000–28,000 hyperthermia ER visits are expected, with treatment costs ranging from US$6 to US$52 million. By 2090, the associated treatment cost for 28,000–65,000 additional hyperthermia ER visits is between US$9 and US$118 million.
The authors characterize the cost estimates as conservative. Nonetheless, they highlight a need for the public health community to plan for preventable health impacts associated with climate change.
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Yeeles, A. Warming impacts the ER. Nature Clim Change 8, 764 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0274-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0274-y
