Impact of high outdoor temperatures and heat waves on pulmonary diseases Role of pneumologists in health-related heat protection

Background: The progressing climate change leads to more frequent and more intense heat waves. Compared to 1951, Germany now experiences on average 8.8 hot days over the summer instead of 3 hot days. For the summers of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 a cumulative number of 23,800 heat-related deaths were calculated based on excess mortality modelling. For vulnerable population groups, heat waves pose an increased risk to health. These groups include the elderly, people with chronic diseases, infants, pregnant women, and people who perform physically hard work or carry out sports outdoors. High temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion and life-threatening heatstroke as well as triggering myocardial infarction and stroke. Objective: Individuals with chronic pulmonary diseases are particularly affected when high temperatures coincide with high levels of air pollution. Heat-related lung problems, such as increased pulmonary load through heat-related hyperventilation together with increased air pollution as well as effects associated with cardiac impairment and pneumonia increase the risk of morbidity and mortality for affected patients during heat waves. Conclusion: Pulmonologists can contribute to health-related heat protection for their patients through heat-specific advice and treatment. Pulmonologists are therefore required to be well-informed regarding measures in their field and to implement heat protection measures for the protection of their patients and employees in their practices and hospital departments.