Tropical storms Increase cardiovascular hospital admissions, study shows

Anadolu Agency

A new study observed an increase in hospital admissions for cardiovascular conditions following tropical storms.

Scientists from Monash University in Australia and the University of Otago in New Zealand have examined records of patients admitted to hospitals in Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam between 2000 and 2019, alongside data from 124 tropical storms that occurred during the same period.

The study found that hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases increased, peaking approximately two months after tropical storms, with elevated case numbers continuing for up to six months. The results showed a statistically significant and long-lasting association between storms and hospitalisations due to cardiovascular conditions among both men and women aged 20 to 59.

Simon Hales, a researcher from the University of Otago, stated, "The study reveals that climate events not only cause direct deaths and injuries but also lead to significant indirect health effects in the months following a disaster."

Hales explained that these delayed indirect health impacts are linked to damage to infrastructure and disruption of livelihoods following major storms.

The details of the study were published in the journal Science Advances.

Tags