What is already known about this topic? Heat waves pose significant mortality risks, particularly for older persons and those with cardiovascular diseases, as established in studies in the United States and China. What is added by this report? This report quantifies the impact of the unprecedented June 2023 heat waves in Northern China across 420 counties, documenting 599 early-onset, intense, prolonged events and estimating excess mortality at 6.1 per million overall (higher at 4.7 for thoses agaed over 65 years and 5.6 for cardiovascular patients), including 6.2 per million from one prolonged June 21 to 27 wave. What are the implications for public health practice? Findings support implementing targeted early warning systems and protective interventions for vulnerable groups like old adults and cardiovascular patients during similar extreme heat events.
Chen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.