The study, published in the journal Emergencias under the title Impacto de la temperaturas extremas en la consultas a los servicios hospitalarios de urgencias (2020-2025), analyzes the evolution of consultation patterns related to heatwaves and periods of intense cold. These episodes are directly associated with an increase in visits, mainly due to the worsening of cardiovascular and respiratory pathologies, as well as metabolic disorders.
The scientific work was coordinated by researcher Oriol Yuguero, territorial clinical director of Emergencies, professor at the Universitat de Lleida (UdL), and head of the ERLab research group. Yuguero emphasizes that healthcare pressure is not uniform but increases sharply when temperatures deviate from climatological norms.
“"The data underscores the need to reinforce epidemiological surveillance systems and to integrate environmental health criteria into hospital and community planning."
The study authors also point out the vulnerability of specific groups, such as the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, or those with fewer resources to access adequate climate control. This vulnerability contributes significantly to the frequency and severity of consultations.
The eight participating Catalan public hospitals are the Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova in Lleida, the Hospital Universitari Joan XXVIII in Tarragona, the Hospital Universitari Verge de la Cinta in Tortosa, the Hospital Universitari Josep Trueta in Girona, the Hospital Universitari de Viladecans, the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, the Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol in Badalona, and the Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona.
