MGB study shows racial disparities in extreme temperature-related deaths

By the numbers: Researchers found that 1 in every 1,000 deaths was related to extreme temperature exposure, per the study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, citing death certificates between 1999 and 2024.

• 65% of those cases were cold-related. The rest were heat-related.

Yes, but: Heat-related deaths will likely increase as climate change gets worse, said Shady Abohashem, the study's senior author, who works at Mass General Hospital.

Threat level: Adults over age 65, men overall and Black people had higher temperature-related mortality rates.

• Black people's heat-related mortality rates were double white people's heat-related mortality rates.
• Cold-related mortality rates were highest among Black people, followed by white people and Latinos.

What they're saying: "Even if we didn't directly feel the effect on our body right now, in the long term, it could have a substantial effect on our health," Abohashem told Axios.

• The findings show the need for better insulated housing, access to cooling and heating, and early-warning systems to protect people as we see more climate extremes, Abohashem added.