Heat Waves Killed 120,000 People in Brazil Over 20 Years

A study by Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation) and UFBA (Federal University of Bahia) shows that Brazil recorded 120,000 deaths associated with heat waves between 2000 and 2019, equivalent to 0.6% of total mortality during the period. The analysis included data from 5,566 municipalities through DataSUS’s Mortality Information System.

Most municipalities showed an upward trend in the frequency and intensity of climate events. Heat waves were more frequent in the North and Center-West regions, while the most intense episodes compared with local average temperatures occurred in the South and Southeast.

Of the 120,000 deaths, 97,000 involved people aged 65 or older, and 58,000 were caused by cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. In addition to elderly people and women, individuals with lower levels of education form a vulnerable group. "As education levels increase, the risk of death decreases," says Fiocruz researcher Beatriz Oliveira.

Among hospitalizations through Brazil’s public health system (SUS), respiratory diseases and urinary conditions were the most common. Among children under 10, gastroenteritis was the condition most associated with heat waves.

For Oliveira, extreme heat must be recognized as a public health risk, and monitoring services should be strengthened, prioritizing the vulnerable groups identified by the study.

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