2018 Reports

Health Impacts of Extreme Temperatures in Brisbane, Australia

Huang, Cunrui; Wang, Xiaomeng

Brisbane, Australia, with a subtropical climate and a population of over 2 million, experiences significant seasonal temperature extremes that affect public health, with both hot summers and cold winters contributing to premature mortality. This study estimated temperature-related years-of-life-lost (YLL) using daily mortality data from 1996–2004, incorporating age and sex to better capture the burden of heat- and cold-related deaths. Results show a U-shaped relationship between temperature and YLL, with extreme heat and cold both increasing premature mortality, and projections under climate change scenarios suggest that a >2°C rise could substantially increase heat-related YLL without offset from reduced cold-related mortality. These findings highlight the importance of public health adaptation and planning to mitigate the growing impact of temperature extremes under climate change.