A decade has passed since the publication of the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s guidance on heat–health action planning (Matthies et al., 2008). Since then, the evidence has become increasingly clear on the accelerating trends in frequency and in the relative and absolute intensity of heat waves throughout the Region. In some countries, despite increasing episodes of extreme temperatures, heat-related health impacts seem to be decreasing. In others, however, the evidence is mixed; in some, heat vulnerability seems to be increasing. All cases highlight the need to strengthen prevention efforts further. Projections for the Region under a changing climate indicate that heat-related exposures and impacts could increase substantially through the combined effects of climate change, urbanization and ageing. Moreover, an enormous new corpus of scientific evidence has been published,  covering almost every aspect of public health responses to heat.

 All these factors suggest the need for and pertinence of a re-evaluation of the guidance to ensure its continued operational relevance.

References

Achebak H, Devolder D, Ballester J (2018). Heat-related mortality trends under recent climate warming in Spain: a 36-year observational study. PLoS Med.

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 Alcoforado MJ, Marques D, García RAC, Canário P, Nunes M de F, Nogueira H et al. (2015). Weather and climate versus mortality in Lisbon (Portugal) since the 19th century. Applied Geog. 57:133–41. doi:10.1016/j. apgeog.2014.12.017.

 Amengual A, Homar V, Romero R, Brooks HE, Ramis C, Gordaliza M et al. (2014). Projections of heat waves with high impact on human health in Europe. Glob Planet Change. 119:71–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. gloplacha.2014.05.006.

 Arbuthnott KG, Hajat S (2017). The health effects of hotter summers and heat waves in the population of the United Kingdom: a review of the evidence. Environ Health. 16(S1):119. doi:10.1186/s12940-017-0322-5.

 Åström DO, Forsberg B, Edvinsson S, Rocklöv J (2013a). Acute fatal effects of short-lasting extreme temperatures in Stockholm, Sweden: evidence across a century of change. Epidemiology. 24(6):820–9. doi:10.1097/01.ede.0000434530.62353.0b.

 Åström DO, Forsberg B, Ebi KL, Rocklöv J (2013b). Attributing mortality from extreme temperatures to climate change in Stockholm, Sweden. Nat Clim Change. 3:1050–4. doi:10.1038/nclimate2022.


Laatste wijziging: dinsdag, 10 januari 2023, 12:14