Increase in premature births linked to longer, intense heatwaves: Study

As the summer heat wave intensifies, its impact on health becomes more evident. A recent study has linked rising rates of premature births to intense, prolonged heat waves. Scientists from the University of Nevada analyzed 53 million births in the top 50 urban areas of the U.S. from 1993 to 2017. They found that preterm births increased by 2 percent and early-term births by 1 percent after a four-day period of exceptionally high temperatures.

Each 1 degree Celsius increase above the threshold was associated with a 1 percent rise in both preterm and early-term birth rates. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, showed that younger women, those with lower education levels, and minority groups were more affected. Increases were more pronounced for longer and hotter heatwaves, particularly among lower socioeconomic groups.