At least 2,325 people died from the heat last year, according to the study, which included deaths with heat as both an underlying and contributing factor.
The study, which used records dating back to 1999, found that annual deaths mostly remained steady, including a low point in 2004, until the mid-2010s, when an upward trend began. The increases peaked with the last year, which was also the hottest year on record.
The researchers also found that the age-adjusted rate of heat deaths per capita was on the rise during the same period. While they found an adjusted rate of 0.47 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, the rate increased to 0.63 last year.
“These results align with site-specific data analyzed in a global study that suggest increases in heat-related mortality,” the authors wrote. “As temperatures continue to rise because of climate change, the recent increasing trend is likely to continue.”
Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.
