Extreme Hot Weather Events and Risk of Hospitalization for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases in Older People in Hong Kong in 2012–2018.

This article examines the relationship between extreme hot weather events (EHWEs) and hospitalization risks for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases among older adults in Hong Kong, comparing institutionalized residents of old age homes (OAHs) with community-dwelling counterparts. Using territory-wide hospitalization data from 2012 to 2018 and defining EHWEs as sequences of very hot days (daily maximum temperature ≥33 °C) and hot nights (daily minimum temperature ≥28 °C), the study found that prolonged heat exposure is associated with increased cardiovascular admissions, particularly among frailer OAH residents, with effects manifesting after longer lag periods (up to 18 days) compared to community dwellers. Respiratory disease admissions showed more immediate associations with heat exposure but less pronounced lag effects. The findings highlight the vulnerability of institutionalized older populations to heat-related health risks and suggest the need for enhanced heat protection measures and healthcare planning tailored to these groups.