Abstract
As global temperatures continue to rise, extreme heat events are becoming more frequent
and intense. Extreme heat affects cardiovascular health as it is associated with a
greater risk of adverse cardiovascular events, especially for adults with preexisting
cardiovascular diseases. Nonetheless, the pathophysiology underlying the association
between extreme heat and cardiovascular risk remains understudied. Furthermore, specific
recommendations to mitigate the effects of extreme heat on cardiovascular health remain
limited to guide clinical practice within the context of a warming climate. The overall
objective of this review article is to raise awareness that extreme heat poses a risk
for cardiovascular health. Specifically, the review discusses why cardiovascular healthcare
professionals should care about extreme heat, how extreme heat affects cardiovascular
health, and recommendations to minimise the cardiovascular consequences of extreme
heat. Future research directions are also provided to further our understating of
the cardiovascular health consequences of extreme heat. A better awareness and understanding
of the cardiovascular consequences of extreme heat will help cardiovascular health
professionals assess the risk and optimise the care of their patients exposed to an
increasingly warm climate.
Résumé
Avec la hausse continue des températures à l'échelle mondiale, les épisodes de chaleur
extrême deviennent plus fréquents et plus intenses. Cette chaleur extrême affecte
la santé cardiovasculaire car elle est associée à un risque accru d'événements cardiovasculaires
indésirables, en particulier chez les adultes souffrant de maladies cardiovasculaires
préexistantes. Néanmoins, la pathophysiologie qui sous-tend l'association entre chaleur
extrême et risque cardiovasculaire reste peu étudiée. En outre, les recommandations
spécifiques visant à atténuer les effets de la chaleur extrême sur la santé cardiovasculaire
restent limitées afin de guider la pratique clinique dans le contexte du réchauffement
climatique. L'objectif général de cette revue de littérature est de sensibiliser les
professionnels de la santé cardiovasculaire aux risques que posent la chaleur extrême
pour la santé cardiovasculaire. Plus précisément, nous aborderons les raisons pour
lesquelles les professionnels de la santé cardiovasculaire devraient se préoccuper
de la chaleur extrême, la manière dont la chaleur extrême affecte la santé cardiovasculaire
et les recommandations visant à minimiser les conséquences cardiovasculaires de la
chaleur extrême. Des orientations de recherche futures sont également proposées afin
de mieux appréhender les conséquences de la chaleur extrême sur la santé cardiovasculaire.
Une meilleure connaissance et compréhension des conséquences cardiovasculaires de
la chaleur extrême aidera les professionnels de la santé cardiovasculaire à évaluer
le risque et à optimiser les soins de leurs patients exposés à un climat de plus en
plus chaud.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 17, 2021
Accepted:
August 9,
2021
Received:
June 6,
2021
Footnotes
See page 1834 for disclosure information.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
