The climate crisis is in full swing. This is also noticeable in Germany: extreme weather events, changing weather patterns, drought and other things have become common phenomena. As well as rising temperatures in summer. One might briefly think of open-air swimming pools and ice cream. But heat waves, which means temperatures of more than about 25 degrees Celsius for more than three days at a time, are a great burden.

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For everyone, for plants, the groundwater table, animals and of course for human beings.

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Hot periods pose a serious threat to health. With a steady increase in the duration, intensity, and frequency of heat waves expected in the coming years and decades - even if the climate crisis can be contained - it is critical to quantify and understand the health impacts of heat.

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This is now being done within the framework of the Institute and Department of Environmental Medicine's project EXTREME. The team receives pseudonymized patient data from the university hospital that traces which person had to go to the emergency room, when and for what reason, and what the further course of the person's medical condition was. Any previous illnesses and medication taken are also taken into consideration. This is because people who are already (chronically) ill or take medication that interferes with the body's water balance, for example, are particularly vulnerable to heat.

One of the aims of the project is to find out exactly which diseases are influenced by heat, how much more frequently they occur and whether people also newly develop illnesses due to heat. Here the study particularly focuses on cardiovascular diseases, complications of metabolic diseases, lung diseases or allergies.

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The data provided will be interlaced with weather data for Augsburg.

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The plan is to look at the period from 2000 to 2022 to get as good a picture as possible of the region's increasing heat stress.

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In addition, the EXTREME team will receive billing data from the KVB (Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Bavaria) from the same period in order to also analyze data from the outpatient, primary care sector and correlate it with weather data.

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Last but not least, surveys are also planned. These will be conducted among patients and caregivers who come to or work in the emergency room of the university hospital during a heat wave.

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On the one hand, the team hopes to gain insights into how patients and caregivers experience and deal with heat, what effects heat has on illness and health, and what potential for optimization exists for staff deployed during heat waves. On the other hand, challenges and shortages in care and treatment can also become visible.

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A group discussion with medical staff from the emergency department and ambulance service will help to develop the most suitable questions for the patient surveys. Participants in the project are welcome. More information will follow, including on this page.

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The overall goal of the EXTREME project is to develop a concept for a heat register that has the ability to predict dynamics of upcoming heat waves, including e.g. expected capacity needs in health care, and - in the best case - to develop and implement urgently needed prevention programs. Possible measures would be, for example, to develop heat protection plans and to support hospitals and practices in becoming climate neutral and heat resilient. Ideas for this are numerous: from installing shading solutions and systems for air conditioning to creating green, cooling lounges. There are also specific recommendations for treating, medicating and nourishing patients during heat waves, such as discontinuing or reducing the dose of certain medications or making sure there are enough fluids and light meals available.

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If everyone is pulling together, not only can the climate crisis be contained, but adaptation to more extreme conditions can be achieved and will benefit everyone.

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