What is known about the subject?
Despite an increase in the number of studies available in the recent years regarding the temperature-mortality relationship, most studies have explored population adaptation to heat rather superficially, not delving into the critical question of whether specific populations have or not adapted to heat and its impact on health. To identify this gap we conducted a scoping review including all people and encompassing the concept of adaptation to heat and the context of the impact of global warming on health and mortality. The scoping review identified 23 studies, thus underlining the scarcity of research conducted on human adaptation to heat. The review also found a limited number of countries (8) and research groups (12) involved in the selected studies.
What does this study add to the existing literature?
Despite an increase in the number of studies available in the recent years regarding the temperature-mortality relationship, most studies have explored population adaptation to heat rather superficially, not delving into the critical question of whether specific populations have or not adapted to heat and its impact on health. To identify this gap we conducted a scoping review including all people and encompassing the concept of adaptation to heat and the context of the impact of global warming on health and mortality. The scoping review identified 23 studies, thus underlining the scarcity of research conducted on human adaptation to heat. The review also found a limited number of countries (8) and research groups (12) involved in the selected studies.
What are the implications of the findings?
This study highlights the lack of specific research on adaptation to heat and its impact on human health, and underlines the urgent need for support from political decision-makers and public health policies to foster research and deepen understanding of long-term adaptation to heat and its consequences on the health of the population. Furthermore, this study not only identifies the gap in current knowledge, but also underscores the importance of prioritising research to address a critical aspect of climate change.
Miguel Ángel Navas Martín
Predoctoral Research Staff
Reference Unit for Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment
Escuela Nacional de Sanidad (National School of Public Health)
Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)