Heatwaves and Public Health: A Bibliometric Exploration of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies
Kaitano Dube, Hannah Al Ali, Basit Khan, Alireza Daneshkhah
Abstract
The year 2024 has been recorded as the warmest year on record, with global temperatures temporarily exceeding the 1.5 °C threshold owing to rising anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This has intensified global attention on heatwaves, which are a major public health threat linked to increased morbidity and mortality rates. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 901 Web of Science-indexed journal articles (2004–2024) using the term “heat wave health.” The findings revealed a significant increase in global temperatures, with an increasing frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events. Heatwaves have been linked to higher rates of injuries, mental health disorders, and mortality, particularly in urban areas, due to ozone pollution, atmospheric contaminants, and the urban heat island effect, leading to increased emergency hospitalisation. Rural populations, especially outdoor labourers, face occupational heat stress and a higher risk of fatality. Adaptation measures, including early warning systems, heat indices, air conditioning, white and green roofs, and urban cooling strategies, offer some mitigation but are inadequate in the long term. Significant knowledge gaps persist regarding regional vulnerabilities, adaptation effectiveness, and socio-economic disparities, underscoring the urgent need for interdisciplinary research to inform heat-resilient public health policies and climate adaptation strategies. This study highlights the urgent need for further interdisciplinary research and targeted policy interventions to enhance heatwave resilience, particularly in under-researched and highly vulnerable regions of the world.