Massachusetts General Brigham study finds increased emergency department visits and deaths weeks after major extreme weather events due to climate change, and these events have long-lasting impacts on health and infrastructure It becomes clear that there is a possibility.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of severe weather events, which can particularly put vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, at risk. Researchers at Massachusetts General Brigham and colleagues examined how weather disasters from 2011 to 2016 affected health care delivery and deaths among Medicare beneficiaries in affected counties, and found that significant They found that emergency department (ED) utilization and mortality remained elevated by 1.22% one week after the weather event. 1.4% each from pre-disaster levels. Importantly, the study also found that the number of deaths remained elevated for six weeks.Results are posted below natural medicine.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, founding members of the Massachusetts General Hospital-Brigham Health System, collaborated on this study. The research team identified events from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and analyzed acute disasters such as floods, storms, and hurricanes that caused more than $1 billion in damages. Compared to other disasters, severe storms were associated with the highest mortality rate, which lasted for six weeks. Counties with the greatest economic losses were found to have 2-4 times higher mortality rates and higher ED utilization compared to all affected counties, as well as infrastructure problems such as power outages and transportation issues. The findings highlight the potential for destruction to further increase both the economic and health burdens.

Taken together, these findings suggest that the largest weather events have pervasive and long-lasting effects on health emergencies and deaths among Medicare enrollees. Tracking these outcomes is important to better protect patients and communities and strengthen health systems. ”

Renee Salas, MD, MS, MPH, lead author, Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Department