Poverty the key factor in B.C. heat dome deaths: Study

A study of British Columbia’s deadly heat dome in 2021 says the risk factor most strongly associated with dying during those sweltering days was whether that person was receiving income assistance.

The paper, by researchers at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control and published in Environment Research: Health, compared those who died with similar people who survived, focusing on health conditions and socioeconomic status.

Click to play video: 'New government program to distribute 8,000 air conditioning units'

New government program to distribute 8,000 air conditioning units

A 2022 B.C. coroner’s report said 619 deaths were attributed to the heat event, and the latest research says the prevalence of low income was 2.4 times higher among the people who died compared with those who survived.

Story continues below advertisement

Temperatures soared for several days across much of British Columbia in late June 2021, reaching temperatures into the high 40s in some areas, while overnight temperatures remained uncharacteristically high.

The latest health and medical news emailed to you every Sunday.

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.

Get weekly health news

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News’ Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

This study calls the 2021 heat dome “one of the deadliest weather events in Canadian history.”

Click to play video: 'Activists rally over heat dome recommendations'

Activists rally over heat dome recommendations

Researchers found health conditions most strongly associated with death during the heat dome were schizophrenia, COPD, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, ischemic stroke, and substance use disorder.

“Susceptibility to extreme heat is not determined by any single factor, but rather depends on the confluence of overlapping factors,” the study released this week says.

“For example, higher social vulnerability is associated with several risk factors for (extreme heat event) mortality, including a higher prevalence of chronic diseases, poorer overall health, lower access to air conditioning, and features of the built environment that promote higher local temperatures such as lower green space and more paved surfaces.”

Story continues below advertisement

A panel report commissioned by the province’s chief coroner found that most of those who died were older adults with compromised health due to multiple chronic diseases and who lived alone.

More on Health

&copy 2024 The Canadian Press

Source