Grant: Project Grant

Canada is entering unchartered territory as it regularly experiences record high temperatures negatively affecting the health and well-being of heat-vulnerable elderly men and women. Visiting cooling centres and using electric fans are commonly-recommended strategies to protect the elderly during hot weather, but their effectiveness is unproven. Recently, we showed that increasing age is associated with an impaired physiological capacity to dissipate heat and blunted cardiovascular adjustments to heat stress. Consequently, elderly adults are at increased risk of heat-induced illnesses or death. Age-associated chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension can worsen this response. Given that periods of extreme heat will likely be more frequent, intense, and deadly within the next few decades and Canada's population is aging rapidly, the development of evidence-based heat protection action to mitigate adverse health impacts of heat in the elderly is crucial. To aid in this endeavor, our project will assess the efficacy of visiting a cooling centre and electric fan use (pedestal or ceiling mounted), for protecting elderly men and women (65-85 years) with and without type 2 diabetes or hypertension against dangerous increases in body core temperature and heat-induced cardiovascular instability during a day-long (8-hours) exposure to hot (35°C, 60% relative humidity) indoor conditions the elderly may face during an extreme heat event. By assessing the physiological responses (e.g., body temperatures, heat loss, cardiovascular function, hydration status, inflammatory response, heat cytotoxicity), we can better define best practices for implementation of these commonly employed heat-alleviation strategies. This includes the creation of consensus-based heat protection messaging tailored to men and women with and without chronic health conditions to ensure health equity and a maximum level of protection to maintain health and well-being during extreme heat.