Effects of Temperature Variation on the Human Cardiovascular System: A Systematic Review

Abstract

In recent years, extreme weather has been recorded on every continent demanding adaptation of health care services to climate change. The aim of this chapter was to conduct a systematic review concerning the effects of temperature variation on the human cardiovascular system in order to access evidence of how heat and cold-waves are affecting health. A systematic search was conducted between December 15th and 25th via health-related databases: PubMed, Medline, LILACS, SciELO and Cochrane Library, using combinations of the DeCS/MeSH terms “ambient temperature”, “health” and “cardiovascular system” and their equivalent in Spanish and Portuguese, published between 2004 and 2014. A total of 47 publications were retrieved, 9 of which met the inclusion criteria. Some studies reported the potential effects of temperature on human health, mostly from high temperatures. The main effect of ambient temperature variation on human systems is abnormalities in blood vessels and homeostatic mechanisms, which trigger a series of responses that may affect the cardiovascular system. Papers from different countries report that changes in ambient temperature alter the profile of hospitalizations, with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disorders, particularly in individuals with predisposing factors or comorbidities, such as being elderly and having Type 2 diabetes. The conclusion is that high ambient temperatures are leading to increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, mainly heatstroke, and the elderly is the most vulnerable age group.