Extreme heat linked to increase in mental health emergency care

Date:
February 23, 2022
Source:
Boston University School of Medicine
Summary:
During periods of extreme heat, clinicians should expect to see an
increase in patients requiring mental health services, according
to a new study. The study found that days with higher-than-normal
temperatures during the summer season in the United States were
associated with increased rates of emergency department (ED) visits
for any mental health-related condition, particularly substance use,
anxiety and stress disorders, and mood disorders. This nationwide
study is the largest and most comprehensive analysis of daily
ambient temperature and mental health-related ED visits among US
adults of all ages.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
On extremely hot summer days, US adults were at an increased risk of
visiting emergency rooms for mental health crises related to substance
use, anxiety, stress, and more.


========================================================================== During periods of extreme heat, clinicians should expect to see an
increase in patients requiring mental health services, according to a
new study led by Boston University School of Public Health researchers.

Published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, the study found that days with higher-than-normal temperatures during the summer season in the United
States were associated with increased rates of emergency department (ED)
visits for any mental health-related condition, particularly substance
use, anxiety and stress disorders, and mood disorders.

The impact of heat on physical health is well documented, but few
studies have examined the effects of extreme heat on mental health. This nationwide study is the largest and most comprehensive analysis of daily ambient temperature and mental health-related ED visits among US adults
of all ages. As days of extreme heat are expected to increase due to
worsening climate change, the findings fill a critical gap in research
and provide evidence-based support for proactive interventions and policy solutions that can reduce heat-related crises.

"Emergency department visits represent some of the costliest
interactions within the healthcare system," says study lead author
Dr. Amruta Nori-Sarma, assistant professor of environmental health at
BUSPH. "Addressing the needs of the most vulnerable to preempt some
of these visits can have a positive impact on individual health and
costs, as well as preserve healthcare resources for other emergencies."
The new findings should prompt healthcare providers to prepare for an
increased need in mental health services during times when extreme heat is predicted, Nori-Sarma says. "When heat waves are forecasted, clinicians
and public health experts may use our findings to prepare especially
for outreach to patients with existing mental health conditions."
The general public can also benefit from this insight, says study senior
author Dr. Gregory Wellenius, professor of environmental health and
director of the Climate and Health Program at BUSPH.



==========================================================================
"On days of extreme heat, it is important that we each take the
precautions necessary to take care of ourselves and our loved ones,"
he says, which can include checking on neighbors or family members who
may be susceptible to health impacts of heat exposure.

For the study, Nori-Sarma and colleagues obtained medical claims data
on mental health-related ED visits from OptumLabs Data Warehouse, which contains de- identified, longitudinal health information on more than 200 million commercial and Medicare Advantage enrollees throughout the US. The researchers analyzed approximately 3.5 million ED visits among 2.2 million adults ages 18 or older who had commercial or Medicare Advantage health insurance during the warm season (May to September) from 2010 to 2019.

Days of extreme heat -- defined as temperatures above the 95th percentile
of temperature distributions by county -- were most strongly linked with
ED visits for childhood-onset behavioral disorders and substance use
disorders, followed by anxiety, stress-related, and somatoform disorders,
and mood disorders.

Extreme heat was also associated with ED visits for schizophrenia.

The researchers found that the impact of heat on mental health was similar across age groups, and evident in both men and women and in every region
of the country. "These results show that heat can profoundly impact the
mental health of people regardless of age, sex, or where they live,"
says Wellenius.

The authors found the the impact of heat was slightly higher in the
Northeast, Midwest, and Northwest. Although those regions generally have
lower temperatures than the southeast or southwestern US, "that is exactly
why the populations in these areas might suffer the most during times
of high temperatures," Nori-Sarma says. "They don't necessarily have the
skills or resources in place to cope during times of extreme heat. Heat
events will become even more extreme as the climate continues to warm,
so it's doubly important to identify the populations that are most
vulnerable and to help them adapt to warmer summertime conditions."
In future studies, the researchers aim to identify public health
strategies that will help alert people to the risks posed by extreme
heat and better protect the most vulnerable community members. Subsequent research will also explore the impact of elevated temperatures on mental
health during longer periods of time (i.e. heat waves), as well as the
impact on vulnerable groups that this study did not assess, including
the uninsured, low-income, and various race/ethnicities, and those
experiencing less urgent situations.

The continuing effects of COVID-19 on mental health will also shape
this work.

Lockdowns, social isolation, and general uncertainty during the early days
of the pandemic increased the need for -- and limited the availability
of - - mental health services simultaneously as EDs were overwhelmed
with patients experiencing physical emergencies, Nori-Sarma says.

"As we approach the upcoming summer season, it is important to
keep in mind that the combination of stressors -- pandemic and
climate -- might exacerbate existing mental health conditions,"
she says. "The mental healthcare system should plan accordingly."
special promotion Explore the latest scientific research on sleep and
dreams in this free online course from New Scientist -- Sign_up_now_>>> ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Boston_University_School_of_Medicine. Original written by Jillian
McKoy. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Amruta Nori-Sarma, Shengzhi Sun, Yuantong Sun, Keith R. Spangler,
Rachel
Oblath, Sandro Galea, Jaimie L. Gradus, Gregory
A. Wellenius. Association Between Ambient Heat and Risk of Emergency
Department Visits for Mental Health Among US Adults, 2010 to
2019. JAMA Psychiatry, 2022; DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.4369 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220223111307.htm

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