https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-025-02737-x
1Universitätsklinikum Regensburg Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Med. II, Kardiologie Regensburg, Deutschland; 2University of Regensburg Institute of Psychology Regensburg, Deutschland; 3Universitätsklinikum Regensburg Regensburg, Deutschland; 4University of Regensburg Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Regensburg, Deutschland; 5University of Regensburg Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Medical Sociology Regensburg, Deutschland
Introduction: Climate change poses an increasing health threat due to heat stress, extreme weather-related events and increasing disease burden. Identifying the characteristics of vulnerable population groups is essential to mitigate morbidity and reduce disease burden.1,2
Purpose: This study aimed to analyse patients' perspectives on the health impacts of climate change and to identify individuals suffering due to the climatic alterations.
Methods: A collective of inpatients and outpatients from a tertiary hospital in Germany was invited to complete a 36-item questionnaire. The survey assessed participants’ current life conditions, perceptions of climate change, its impact on their health, and their knowledge of disease risk factors. Statistical analyses were performed using Student's t-test and the chi-squared test to identify subgroup differences. All analyses were performed with SPSS statistical software (version 28).
Results: 370 patients completed the survey (mean age: 47.8 ± 17.5 years; 50.7% female) and were included in the analysis. More than half of the patients (194; 52.4%) reported that the perceived impact of climate change on their health had increased over the past decade. Nearly half of these, (91; 46.9%) reported experiencing moderate to severe symptoms (SUF). The SUF group was compared with patients who did not perceive the impact of climate change over the past decade (non-SUF). Table 1 shows the situational characteristics of SUF and non-SUF patients. Interestingly, there were neither differences in mean age or gender between these subgroups, nor in working hours or presence of classical risk factors like tobacco or alcohol consumption. However, they differed significantly in medication use, with SUF patients taking a higher number of medications more frequently. SUF patients also measured their blood pressure more frequently and tended to work in a more mobile rather than sedentary manner (compare Figures 1a-c). Furthermore, 85.8% of SUF agreed with the statement that climate change will affect their health in the next 1-2 decades, while 64.3% of non-SUF were neutral or did not expect an effect on their health (p <0.001).
Conclusion: This study highlights that there is a group of patients who perceive themselves to be particularly vulnerable to the health effects of climate change. Given the potential health implications, targeted interventions are required to mitigate risks and enhance resilience within this population. A concerted effort from physicians, other healthcare providers, researchers and policymakers is necessary to allocate appropriate resources and develop adaptive strategies. Further research is warranted to refine the identification of at-
risk populations and to design tailored interventions to reduce climate change-related morbidity and mortality.