A Literature Review of Blizzards and Population Health

Background People in many regions of the world are often affected by blizzards, which are also showing an increasing trend in certain areas due to climate change. This literature review aimed to synthesize evidence on the health impacts of blizzards. Methods This literature review was informed by systematic review principles. PubMed and Web of Science were searched from January 1, 1935, to May 31, 2025. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) risk of bias rating tool, and findings were synthesized descriptively due to substantial heterogeneity across studies. Results A total of 28 studies were included. Available evidence indicated that blizzards were associated with adverse health outcomes affecting multiple systems and organs, including trauma, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, neurological diseases, and foodborne and waterborne diseases. However, evidence was geographically concentrated in a limited number of countries, diseases, categories, and subpopulations. Conclusions Blizzards may pose substantial risks to human health, yet important evidence gaps remain. Deepening the understanding and strengthening the prevention of the negative health impacts of blizzards is an integral part of addressing the health threats of climate change globally. This requires joint efforts from government-led policy support, individual coping, education of the population, and scientific research and technological innovation. Registration PROSPERO CRD42024586068.