‘Climate cardiology’ needed to tackle links between climate change and heart health
Numerous opportunities to simultaneously protect patients and the planet, say experts
A new specialty of climate cardiology is needed to tackle the many links between climate change and cardiovascular health and simultaneously protect patients and the future of the planet, say experts in the open access journal BMJ Global Health.
As a result of human activities, levels of greenhouse gases are the highest they have been in at least 800,000 years, prompting a rise in global surface temperatures and associated climate change.
Major sources of greenhouse gas emissions include fossil fuel burning, agriculture, deforestation and meat production. But globally, the healthcare sector is responsible for nearly 4.5% of emissions, as well as nearly 3% of fine particulate matter air pollution (PM 2.5 ).
In the US, the healthcare sector emits nearly 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, note the authors.
And the environmental and social consequences of climate change are set to increase the prevalence and severity of cardiovascular risk factors over this century, they warn.
Climate change leads to more frequent extreme weather events, air pollution, ecosystem collapse, and declines in global food production and the nutritional quality of major cereal crops.
All these factors have direct effects on cardiovascular health, as well as indirect effects through other social determinants of health and the capacity of health systems to manage climate hazards, explain the authors.
But there are opportunities to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the global toll of cardiovascular disease, insist the authors.
A transition from predominantly meat based to plant based diets is required, facilitated by a restructuring of food subsidies and taxation, suggest the authors. Red meat, which contains high levels of saturated fat, is an established risk factor for heart disease, and responsible for 738,000 cardiovascular deaths in 2019.
A shift to active transport, such as walking and cycling, would not only help to promote physical activity but would also cut greenhouse gas emissions: physical inactivity was responsible for 639,000 cardiovascular deaths in 2019.
An expansion of green spaces in residential areas would help to reduce stress and soak up atmospheric CO 2 while a shift away from coal, oil, and gas towards solar and wind power, geothermal energy, and hydroelectricity would save more than 20 million attributable deaths over the next 30 years.
Burning coal or biomass for cooking or heating indoors releases considerable greenhouse gases and was responsible for over 1 million cardiovascular deaths in 2019. Therefore, providing clean cooking stoves is a cost-effective way of improving global cardiovascular health, while cutting emissions, say the authors.
As to healthcare systems, they can reduce their carbon footprint by promoting telemedicine, local ambulatory care, and self-care, and by cutting down on overtreatment, overprescribing, and unnecessary interventions.
Health systems should also invest in disaster planning and early warning systems to prepare for waves of illness associated with climate change, while medical education should incorporate teaching and research on environmental health and sustainable practices in healthcare, the authors suggest.
“The window is closing to prevent the worst effects of climate change. The healthcare sector must take urgent action to prevent the climate crisis from undermining cardiovascular health,” they warn.
“A new field of climate cardiology can study and implement such opportunities to protect patients and the planet,” they conclude.
Notes for editors Commentary: Climate cardiology doi 10.11.36/bmjgh-2022-008860 Journal: BMJ Global Health
Link to AMS press release labelling system
https://press.psprings.co.uk/AMSlabels.pdf
London, UK head office BMJ BMA House Tavistock Square London WC1H 9JR United Kingdom
Switchboard: +44 (0)203 655 5997 Customer Service: +44 (0) 20 7111 1105 Email: support@bmj.com
Beijing, China Room 335 Hyundai Motor Tower 38 Xiaoyun Road Chaoyang District Beijing, 100027 China
Telephone 1: +86 (10) 64100686 Telephone 2: +86 (10) 64100685 Email: info.china@bmj.com
Mumbai, India BMJ 102, Navkar Chamber, A Wing Marol, Andheri - Kurla Road Andheri (East) Mumbai- 400059
Tel: 022-40260312/13/14 Email: sbasu@bmj.com
Noida, India BMJ Group India Pvt. Ltd. IT TOWER, 3rd Floor, Plot No. FC-24, , Sector-16 A, Film city Noida, U.P - 201301
Tel: +91 120 4345733 Email: sbasu@bmj.com
New Jersey, North America BMJ Publishing Inc Two Hudson Place Hoboken, NJ 07030
Tel: 1- 855-458-0579 Email: ussupport@bmj.com
Cardiff, Wales BMJ 12th Floor, Southgate House Cardiff CF10 1GR Wales, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 207 111 1105 Email: support@bmj.com