Risk of hospitalisation doubles for diabetes, high blood pressure patients on hottest days, study says

A recent study discovered that on the hottest days, the chances of hospitalisation nearly doubled for people with metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, compared to days with more comfortable temperatures.

The research, which examined hospital admissions due to high temperatures over more than 10years in Spain, revealed that extreme heat disproportionately affected people with these health conditions.

"There are a number of reasons to explain this. For example, in people with obesity, heat loss responses work less efficiently, as body fat acts as an insulator, making them more susceptible to heat disorders," said Hicham Achebak, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, as cited by PTI.

The researchers noted that increased levels of air pollution also seemed to exacerbate the likelihood of hospitalisation for individuals with these conditions, including diabetes. Additionally, the study revealed that on warmer days, men exhibited an elevated risk of hospital admission for injuries, whereas women showed a heightened risk of hospitalisation for infectious diseases, hormonal and metabolic disorders, respiratory issues, or urinary diseases. "Under conditions of heat stress, the body activates cutaneous vasodilation (more blood flows to skin) and sweat production in order to lose heat. The subsequent reactions can affect people differently depending on a series of factors, such as age, sex or pre-existing health conditions," explained Achebak, corresponding author of the study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, reported PTI. "We know, for example, that women have a higher temperature threshold above which sweating mechanisms are activated and are more susceptible to the effects of heat," he said. The researchers examined data from over 11.2 million emergency hospital admissions spanning from 2006 to 2019 across 48 provinces in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, a group of islands located off the eastern coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea.

Using statistical analysis methods, the team assessed how temperatures affected various reasons for hospitalisation during the summer months (June to September) across different provinces. They considered factors such as daily average temperatures, relative humidity, and levels of air pollutants like PM2.5.

The study revealed that high temperatures had a widespread impact on specific causes of hospital admissions. Children under one year old and adults over 85 years old were identified as the most vulnerable groups, with heat increasing the risk of hospitalisation across all age ranges. Also watch | Indians to experience extreme heat | Climate anxiety skyrockets globally

The researchers also found that conditions such as kidney issues (including failure and stones), urinary tract infections, and sepsis increased the likelihood of hospitalisation during extreme heat events.

(With inputs from agencies)