PulseExploreJournal ClubDebatesTrendingResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeExploreJournal ClubTrending
Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
April 18, 2026Portuguese Journal of Public Health0 citationsOpen Access

Trends and epidemiological profile of climate-related disasters in Spain between 1950 and 2024

View Full Paper
AGAndrea Fernández GarcíaJMJosé Antonio Cernuda MartínezPGPedro Arcos González

Key Points

  • The study aims to analyze the epidemiological profile and trends of climate-related disasters in Spain from 1950 to 2024.
  • Retrospective descriptive study from January 1950 to December 2024
  • Data compiled from national and international sources
  • Analysis of mean mortality, injury, and affected rates per million inhabitants
  • Temporal trends assessed using Mann-Kendall test
  • Differences in mean rates evaluated with ANOVA test
  • 224 climate-related disasters documented
  • Significant increasing trends in absolute disaster frequency (tau=0.558; p<0.001)
  • Mean mortality rate shows increasing trend (tau=0.239; p<0.001)
  • Significant differences in mortality rates by disaster type (F=4.40; p=0.013)
  • Ongoing upward trajectory in mortality and affected individuals through December 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Climate-related disasters are the result of meteorological, hydrological and climatological hazards. The increasing frequency of such disasters is closely linked to anthropogenic climate change, alongside other factors such as changes in land use and population exposure. The objective of the present study was to analyse the epidemiological profile of climate-related disasters in Spain and their temporal trends. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of climate-related disasters in Spain was performed for the period between January 1950 and December 2024. Data was compiled from various international and national sources to ensure comprehensive coverage of events. Both absolute and relative frequencies were analyzed, and mean mortality, injury, and affected person rates per million inhabitants were calculated for each disaster type. Temporal trends were assessed through the Mann-Kendall test, while differences in total mean rates across disaster categories were evaluated using the ANOVA test. Results: A total of 224 climate-related disasters were documented. Statistically significant increasing trends were identified in the total absolute frequency of disasters(tau= 0.558; p<0.001), the mean mortality rate (tau=0.239; p<0.001), the mean injury rate (tau= 0.144; p= p<0.001) and the mean rate of affected individuals (tau= 0.481; p= p<0.001). The mean mortality rate exhibited statistically significant differences according to the type of disaster (F= 4.40; p= 0.013). Conclusions: From 1950 to 2024, a statistically significant increasing trend was observed in the number of climate-related disasters and their associated human toll. Data recorded through December 2024 indicate that this upward trajectory continues, particularly regarding mortality and affected individuals.

Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper

Cite This Study

García et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69e31f9e40886becb653ed50https://doi.org/10.1159/000552050
Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper