Climate change linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease: JAMA Study

In a new study, published in JAMA Cardiology, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) conducted a systematic review to determine whether there is a link between climate change-related environmental stressors and cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately one in every three deaths, with more than 20 million deaths, according to a 2024 World Heart Federation report.

Climate change can impact cardiovascular health through various mechanisms. Firstly, exposure to environmental stressors can lead to physiological changes, such as an increased heart rate and plasma viscosity during extreme heat, or local and systemic inflammation following the inhalation of airborne particulate matter. Secondly, coping with extreme weather events can heighten stress, anxiety, and depression, which in turn may elevate cardiovascular risk. Together, these pathways pose significant threats to the cardiovascular health of the population.

In the study, researchers screened nearly 21,000 peer-reviewed studies that evaluated associations between acute cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality and CVD healthcare utilization and climate change-related phenomena.

The analysis found a strong link between exposure to extreme temperatures and a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related mortality. The impact, however, varied based on the specific temperature and the duration of exposure. Additionally, extreme weather events were associated with an elevated cardiovascular risk. Some studies indicated that exposure to wildfire smoke, which can affect populations hundreds of miles away from the source, increased the risk of events such as cardiac arrest.

“Climate change is already affecting our cardiovascular health; exposure to extreme heat can adversely affect heart rate and blood pressure; exposure to ozone or wildfire smog can trigger systemic inflammation. We know that these changes have the potential to undermine the cardiovascular health of the population, but the magnitude of the impact, and which populations will be particularly susceptible, need further study,” said corresponding author Dhruv S. Kazi.

Reference: Kazi DS, Katznelson E, Liu C, et al. Climate Change and Cardiovascular Health: A Systematic Review. JAMA Cardiol. Published online June 12, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2024.1321