Geographical Health
Parts of western North America had a disastrous week of nearly 50°C temperatures in June 2021. There were considerably more effects of the severe heat event than just discomfort. One of the hardest hit areas in Canada, British Columbia, saw 1,649 fatalities over an 8-day period, nearly double the average and ranking the heat wave among the deadliest meteorological disasters in the country.
Nevertheless, a recent study found that not everyone was at an equal chance of passing away. In British Columbia, deaths from the extreme heat event were compared to deaths from the same dates in previous years to determine the prevalence of 26 chronic conditions. They discovered that among the ailments that made them the most vulnerable were mental problems.
The researchers discovered that patients with schizophrenia had a 3 times higher risk of passing away during the hot event compared to more ordinary summer weather when they examined administrative health data linked to roughly 8,000 deaths.
Also, there were subtler connections to mental disease. For instance, the likelihood of dying from heat stroke was nearly two times higher in people who had depression. The researchers discovered that patients with drug use disorders had a 1.5-fold increased risk of dying when they took into account situations in which the cause of death was labelled as "pending" (a common circumstance brought about by reporting delays).
Several research have found a connection between mental illness and death from high heat, but the reason for this connection is unclear. Anosognosia, a disease that prevents a person from understanding their own health status, is linked to some mental illnesses, including schizophrenia. The authors speculate that this might prevent people from understanding the dangers of overheating. In addition, stigmatisation, social exclusion, and economic marginalisation are frequent among those who suffer from mental diseases, all of which pose risks during periods of excessive heat. Antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs are the last.
which are essential for treating some mental diseases, have an impact on thermoregulation, making patients more susceptible to overheating. In addition to mental problems, the current research revealed other conditions like chronic kidney disease, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic stroke, and diabetes that were linked to greater probabilities of dying during this heat event. Remarkably, however, the mortality risk for those with dementia, two cardiovascular diseases (angina and hospitalised transient ischemic attack), and osteoporosis was lower during the 2021 heat wave than it was for people who experienced summer weather more frequently.
Prior research has demonstrated an association between dementia and a higher risk of death. Because of the established connections, it's plausible that carers paid more attention to patients with these conditions during the 2021 heat wave, but the researchers were unable to test this theory using the data at their disposal. The hope, according to the scientists, is that in the future, during natural disasters, persons with mental illness will receive such life-saving assistance.
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