Professor Peng Bi’s Groundbreaking Research on Climate Change and Heart Disease

As climate change continues to shape our world, its impact on human health becomes increasingly urgent.

 A new study led by Professor Peng Bi, a member of ISER and a professor of public health and environmental medicine at the University of Adelaide, sheds light on a crucial issue, how rising temperatures contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Published in the European Heart Journal, the research funded by an ARC DP, reveals that extreme heat is responsible for 7.3% of Australia’s heart disease burden. If greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace, this figure could double or even triple by mid-century. The study analysed data from 2003 to 2018, finding that over 48,000 years of life are lost annually due to cardiovascular disease linked to heat stress.

Professor Bi and his team highlight how high temperatures put extra strain on the heart, particularly for those with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. Their research also provides insight into regional disparities, with South Australia currently bearing the highest rate of heat-related heart disease, a trend expected to persist into the 2030s. Meanwhile, the Northern Territory is predicted to face the most significant percentage increase in heat-related cardiovascular disease by the 2050s.

The study underscores the urgent need for climate adaptation strategies, including urban cooling initiatives, public health campaigns, and emergency response improvements. By addressing these risks now, policymakers and communities can work together to mitigate future health impacts.

The significance of this study has been widely recognised, with Professor Bi’s research featured in numerous media outlets, with recent interviews from Germany and India and many more from the likes of ABC Radio Sydney, ABC Eyre Peninsula and West Coast, ABC Radio Adelaide, Scienmag, Cosmos Magazine, ABC Online, Aljazeera, MedIndia, Yahoo! Lifestyle, and Pharmacy Daily to name a few.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide, The University of Sydney, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), and Monash University were all involved in the report, which was funded as part of an Australian Research Council Discovery Program project. While the research primarily focused on Australia, its findings have global implications, emphasizing the importance of climate adaptation and mitigation efforts worldwide.

Congratulations to Professor Bi and his team on this critical contribution to public health and climate resilience!