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Heat Adaptation among the Elderly in Spain (1983–2018)

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  • Miguel Ángel Navas-Martín

    (National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Doctorate Program in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, National University of Distance Education, 28015 Madrid, Spain)

  • José Antonio López-Bueno

    (National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • María Soledad Ascaso-Sánchez

    (National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Fernando Follos

    (Tdot Soluciones Sostenibles, SL., Ferrol, 15401 A Coruña, Spain)

  • José Manuel Vellón

    (Tdot Soluciones Sostenibles, SL., Ferrol, 15401 A Coruña, Spain)

  • Isidro Juan Mirón

    (Regional Health Authority of Castile La Mancha, 45500 Torrijos, Spain)

  • María Yolanda Luna

    (State Meteorological Agency, 28071 Madrid, Spain)

  • Gerardo Sánchez-Martínez

    (The UNEP DTU Partnership, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Cristina Linares

    (National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Julio Díaz

    (National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The capacity for adaptation to climate change is limited, and the elderly rank high among the most exposed population groups. To date, few studies have addressed the issue of heat adaptation, and little is known about the long-term effects of exposure to heat. One indicator that allows the ascertainment of a population’s level of adaptation to heat is the minimum mortality temperature (MMT), which links temperature and daily mortality. The aim of this study was to ascertain, firstly, adaptation to heat among persons aged ≥ 65 years across the period 1983 to 2018 through analysis of the MMT; and secondly, the trend in such adaptation to heat over time with respect to the total population. A retrospective longitudinal ecological time series study was conducted, using data on daily mortality and maximum daily temperature across the study period. Over time, the MMT was highest among elderly people, with a value of 28.6 °C (95%CI 28.3–28.9) versus 28.2 °C (95%CI 27.83–28.51) for the total population, though this difference was not statistically significant. A total of 62% of Spanish provinces included populations of elderly people that had adapted to heat during the study period. In general, elderly persons’ level of adaptation registered an average value of 0.11 (°C/decade).

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Ángel Navas-Martín & José Antonio López-Bueno & María Soledad Ascaso-Sánchez & Fernando Follos & José Manuel Vellón & Isidro Juan Mirón & María Yolanda Luna & Gerardo Sánchez-Martínez & Cristin, 2023. "Heat Adaptation among the Elderly in Spain (1983–2018)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-10, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1314-:d:1031883
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    References listed on IDEAS

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