Temperature extremes affect rates of illness and death differently, leading to potential economic shifts from climate change.
Temperature extremes affect rates of illness and death differently, leading to potential economic shifts from climate change.
As temperatures rise, California is experiencing fewer deaths from cold temperatures, which outweigh increased deaths from extreme heat. However, hotter temperatures sharply increase emergency department visits – a previously overlooked consequence of climate change that could place greater burden on the healthcare system.
Using data covering all deaths, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations and daily temperatures in California from 2006 to 2017, researchers from the University of California San Diego and Stanford University reported that hot and cold days influence illness and deaths differently in California. The findings were published online in the journal Science Advances on July 30, 2025.
Read more at University of California - San Diego
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