Heat waves linked to higher mortality rates, especially in cities with more renters – CBC

Statistics Canada study spanning 2 decades lays out risks of extreme heat as climate warms

Jun 19, 2024

As heat warnings spread across North America this week, new Canadian research is shedding light on the health risks from exposure to unusually warm temperatures — particularly in cities with more renters.

The study, released Wednesday by Statistics Canada, found higher-than-average risk of death during extreme heat event days in the majority of Canada’s largest cities over the past two decades.

“The risk of dying tends to increase during days defined as extreme heat events compared to days that are not extreme heat events,” said Matthew Quick, the author of the study and a research analyst at Statistics Canada.

Between 2000 and 2020, roughly 670 more deaths than usual were recorded in the country’s 12 largest cities during periods of extreme heat that lasted two days or longer. The criteria for what is defined as a period of extreme heat varies by region and is defined by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The increase in mortality rates was largely among people 65 and over, according to the study.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/extreme-heat-mortality-statistics-canada-1.7239455

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