Reflections on a Century of Extreme Heat Event-Related Mortality Reporting in Canada

Abstract

Climate change is causing more frequent and severe extreme heat events (EHEs) in Canada, resulting in significant loss of life. However, patterns across mortality reporting for historical EHEs have not been analyzed. To address this gap, we studied deaths in Canadian EHEs from 1936 to 2021, identifying trends and challenges. Our analysis revealed inconsistencies in mortality data, discrepancies between vulnerable populations identified, difficulties in determining the cause of death, and inconsistent reporting on social vulnerability indicators. We provide some observations that could help inform solutions to address the gaps and challenges, by moving toward more consistent and comprehensive reporting to ensure no population is overlooked. Accurately accounting for affected populations could help better target evidence-based interventions, and reduce vulnerability to extreme heat.