The interplay between climate change and ageing: A systematic review of health indicators

Table 1. Main findings and characteristics of the select articles. Authors, Year Study Design Country (Data Collection Years) Climate Change Phenomenon Health Outcome Indicators Morbidity Mortality Berman et al., 2017 [38] Retrospective cohort study USA (2000– 2013) Full drought periods (�150 days) Respiratory-related hospitalization and all-cause mortality During full drought periods, hospitalizations decreased by -1.99% (95% PI: -3.56,-0.38) vs non-drought periods. Mortality risk increased by 1.55% (95% PI: 0.17–2.95) during high severity worsening drought periods. Chen & Zhang, 2022 [39] Retrospective cohort study China (2002– 2018) Average annual T Cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, heart disease and stroke) Every 1˚C increase in T reduced the rates of hypertension by 3% (OR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.96–0.97), heart disease by 6% (0.92–0.95) and stroke by 5% (0.94–0.97). NA Donaldson et al., 2019 [40] Ecological study UK (1995– 2016) Cold (T < 18˚C) All-cause mortality NA Cold-related mortality of females (aged 85+) increased over 1995–2016 vs 1977–1994. Gronlund et al., 2016 [41] Case-crossover study USA (1992– 2006) EH Hospitalizations for renal, heat and respiratory causes Two-day EH effects: hospitalizations increased by 8% (95% CI: 6–11). Six-day EH effects: hospitalizations increased by 11% (95% CI: 8–14). NA Lim et al., 2016 [42] Ecological study Japan (1966– 2010) Abnormal high T (measured by TDI) All-cause mortality NA Average 0.5% (95% CI: 0.1– 1.0) increase in mortality per 1-unit increase in TDI. On summer days with moderate temperature, the

increase in mortality was 1.9% (95% CI: 1.1–2.6) per 1-unit increase in TDI. Liu et al., 2017 [43] Ecological study USA (2004– 2009) Smoke waves (high-pollution episodes from wildfire smoke) Hospitalizations for respiratory illness (COPD and respiratory tract infections) Females had a higher risk of hospital admissions than males on smoke-wave days vs non- smoke-wave days, 10.4% and 3.7%, respectively. NA Majeed et al., 2021 [54] Ecological study USA, Canada and UK (2000–2017) SST variability AMI or IDH admissions and deaths A shift from cool to warm of ENSO was associated with reduced AMI admissions in Canada (adjusted RR 0.89; 95% CI: 0.80–0.99). AMO during strong positive phase was associated with reduced AMI admissions in eastern Canada (RR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87–0.98). A shift from cool to warm of ENSO was associated with increase AMI deaths in USA (RR 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.15). AMO during strong positive phase was associated with increased IHD deaths in the UK (RR 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03– 1.14). McTavish et al., 2018 [44] Case-control study Canada (2005–2012) Heat periods (3 consecutive days) Hospital encounters for AKI Heat periods were associated with a higher risk for AKI (adjusted OR, 1.11; 95% CI: 1.00–1.23). NA Pearce et al., 2016 [55] Ecological study Australia (1999–2006) T variability (short-term T patterns: 1–30 days) Nonaccidental all-cause mortality NA Mortality risk increased by 6% when daily average T was higher (above 90th percentile (�21˚C) vs 25-75th (11– 17˚C)). Mortality increased under higher T with increasing trajectories (T rising). (Continued) PLOS ONE

Climate change, ageing and health PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297116 April 24, 2024 7 / 17