CLEVELAND, Ohio — More Americans reportedly died from heat-related problems in 2023 than ever before, a troubling statistic as Northeast Ohio braces for a heat wave Tuesday that could push heat indices above 100 degrees.
According to the study, published Monday in the American Medical Association's journal JAMA, 2,325 people died from heat last year. From 1999 to 2023, there were 21,518 heat-related deaths, an increase of 117%, the report said.
Until 2016, the number of heat-related deaths fluctuated, after which it began a steady increase of nearly 17 percent per year, CNN reports. However, the study concludes that the number of heat-related deaths is likely underestimated.
“The way death certificates are filled out means that the people filling them out don't always know the exact circumstances that led to the death, so we're probably just scratching the surface,” study co-author Dr. Jeffrey Howard, an associate professor of public health at the University of Texas at San Antonio, told CNN. “The fact that you're seeing this trend tells me that there are probably many more deaths that we just can't count.”
The study's authors say the rising trend in heat-related deaths is unlikely to abate and that local leaders need to be prepared. Howard tells USA Today that most of the deaths in the U.S. occurred in traditionally hot regions such as Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas.
“As temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, recent trends are likely to continue,” the study says. “Local authorities in high-risk areas should consider investing in expanding access to hydration centers and public cooling centers or other buildings with air conditioning.”
The study authors used information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CBS News reports.
