August 8, 2026European Heart Journal
Reducing the burden of heat-related impacts on cardiovascular health
Why the study?
Heat extremes significantly increase morbidity and mortality among older adults and people with cardiovascular disease, with rising frequency and intensity of heat events increasing health risks.
Key Points
- To provide evidence-informed clinical guidance for healthcare professionals to manage cardiovascular health and mitigate morbidity and mortality during extreme heat events.
- Built upon a prior European Society of Cardiology document addressing the pathophysiological mechanisms linking extreme heat to acute cardiovascular events.
- Synthesized expert recommendations from specialists in thermal physiology and cardiovascular medicine across multidisciplinary care settings.
- Outlined proactive clinical practices and multidisciplinary care strategies spanning before, during, and after extreme heat exposure.
- Established actionable pathways to translate pathophysiological evidence into routine clinical practice, enhancing patient safety amid escalating global temperatures.
Structured PICO
P
Population
Older adults and patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) exposed to heat extremes
E
Exposure
Evidence-informed advice and practical strategies for multidisciplinary care before, during, and after heat extremes
O
Outcome
Reduction of the negative impacts of heat on cardiovascular health
This statement provides evidence-informed, multidisciplinary clinical advice for healthcare professionals to mitigate the escalating risks of extreme heat on patients with cardiovascular disease.
Key expert perspectives
Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“We need to know who is vulnerable before periods of extreme heat occur, to discuss individual heat-management plans with them and consider how their illness, medication, hydration needs and living circumstances may influence their risk. Heat preparedness should not begin when a patient presents to an emergency department during a heatwave. It should start much earlier, as part of anticipatory cardiovascular care.”
“Ultimately, our aim is to make preparedness for extreme heat part of routine cardiovascular care. As heat extremes become more frequent and intense, we should not wait until a heatwave occurs to start thinking about how to protect our patients.”
Implication
Supports proactive heat-mitigation strategies in cardiovascular care; extends prior ESC mechanistic statements into multidisciplinary clinical guidance.
Abstract
Heat extremes significantly increase morbidity and mortality, particularly among older adults and people with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The year 2024 was the warmest year on record and the first calendar year in which the annual global mean temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels-exposing people with CVD to a record number of extreme heat days. With the frequency and intensity of heat extremes expected to rise, the health risks for people with CVD will continue to escalate. There is an urgent need to provide scientific evidence to advise patients and healthcare professionals to manage cardiovascular health under these circumstances. This statement builds on a prior European Society of Cardiology document that explored the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying increased risk of cardiovascular events during heat extremes. Here, evidence informed advice guided by experts in thermal physiology and CVD is provided for clinicians and healthcare professionals to help advise their patients and reduce the negative impacts of heat on CVD health. The advice, while novel, relates to best practice for multidisciplinary care before, during, and after heat extremes, ensuring a proactive and comprehensive approach to patient safety. By integrating current evidence with practical strategies, this statement aims to bridge the evidence-to-practice gap and enhance preparedness for the increasing burden of climate-change driven health risks.
Discussion
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Cite This Study
Chaseling et al. (2026) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease. Evidence-informed advice for heat extremes was evaluated. An expert statement from the European Society of Cardiology provides evidence-informed advice for multidisciplinary care to reduce the negative impacts of heat extremes on cardiovascular health.