Nonoptimal ambient temperatures are linked to increased short-term cardiovascular risk, with heat and cold exposure elevating events such as myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure decompensation, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. The statement notes that climate trends, built environment, socioeconomic factors, physiological vulnerability, and systemic inequities amplify these risks, and that geographic location, housing, occupation, and individual exposure modulate effect magnitude.
Biological mechanisms implicated include autonomic and neurohormonal activation, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, hemoconcentration, and impaired thermoregulation, which together mediate temperature-related cardiovascular risk. Beyond incidence, nonoptimal temperatures influence health care access and delivery, raising emergency-care demand and potentially disrupting health-system operations.
The clinician community is reminded that cardiovascular care itself contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, presenting a paradox wherein climate mitigation and cardiovascular protection intersect. The document emphasizes inequalities in exposure and outcomes and calls for strategies at individual, community, health-system, and policy levels.
It also highlights key research gaps and priorities: improved exposure assessment, understanding long-term exposures, interactions with medications and coexposures, and identification of risk modifiers.
Geographic location, housing conditions, occupation, and individual exposure patterns are emphasized as important contextual factors shaping risk.
It also calls for attention to health equity and system-level resilience in mitigation strategies.