A new study has been published as part of the TRUUD project, a research project led by the University of Bristol which aims to reduce non-communicable disease (such as cancers, diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illness) and health inequalities linked to the quality of urban planning and development. 

The new study, led by the University of the West of England, looked at gaps in our knowledge between the urban environment and heatwaves, indoor heat, and non-communicable diseases such as cancers, heart disease and asthma. It examined what we already know about the effects of extreme heat, non-communicable diseases and related risk factors to help urban planners factor health considerations in the decision-making process. 

Findings in the research consistently demonstrated that higher temperatures above defined heat thresholds were significantly associated with increased mortality rates. The studies included in the review reported that for every 1°C rise above the heat threshold, mortality increased by up to 2.5 per cent, emphasising the urgent need for mitigation strategies. Furthermore, the projected impact of temperature rise on heat-related mortality showed alarming figures, with estimates suggesting a potential 90 per cent increase in heat-related deaths between the 2020s and 2050s under medium-emission scenario.

 Read the full University of Bristol news story

A systematic review of the impacts of extreme heat on health and wellbeing in the United Kingdom by Janet Ige, Jane Powell and Paul Pilkington in Cities and Health