Heat Stress in India: A Review

Abstract

Global warming and climate changes have increased the frequency and intensity of heat waves globally as well as in India. The morbidity and mortality of heat stress are under-reported in India. This review was conducted to identify the studies which have reported morbidity and mortality in India and synthesise evidence on the impact of heat stress in the country. Authors identified 373 studies from PubMed and Embase. After removing duplicates and screening for inclusion criteria, 17 articles were selected for the review. Nine articles reported the mortality of heat stress in India, whereas seven articles reported the morbidity. All the studies reported increased mortality due to extreme heat. Eight studies reported excess mortality, which ranged from 5.6% in a study in Varanasi to as high as 43.1 % in Ahmedabad. The studies that have reported morbidity highlight elderly individuals, pregnant women and neonates as the vulnerable population. The discussion focuses on the preventive strategies, heat action plans and primary healthcare reforms needed to manage heat-related illness. Prioritising and focussing on heat-related illness can prevent mortality as well as increase the productivity of the workforce and improve the economy of the country.