HiMOMO - Monitoring heat-related deaths
Project Abstract
Increasing heat stress poses a risk to human health. The federal government would like to monitor the effects of heat on mortality in Switzerland over the long term. To this end, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) has developed a basis for decision-making and a suitable method for estimating heat-related deaths as part of two research projects. Each year, the number of deaths statistically attributable to heat stress is estimated. This monitoring includes estimates of heat-related deaths for the whole of Switzerland, by major region, canton, two age groups, gender and for three temperature ranges (moderate, hot, very hot). The current time series covers the years 1980 to 2023.
For the period of May - September 2024 we estimated that 326 deaths (95% confidence interval [CI]: 171–471) were attributable to heat exposure. The canton of Ticino was particularly affected. Despite rising average summer
temperatures and an ageing population, we found indications of adaptation to heat on the population level, especially to moderately hot temperatures. For more information see the report (in German, with summaries in French, Italian and English).
For the period of May- September 2023, we estimated that 542 deaths (95% confidence interval [CI]: 364-715) were attributable to heat exposure. The extended 14-day heatwave in August in parts of French-speaking Switzerland, Valais and Ticino was the longest and most intense heat wave ever documented at that time of the year. For more information see the report (in German, with summaries in French and Italian).
Main Applicant(s)
Related Publications
All PublicationsRagettli M, Luyten A, Röösli M. Monitoring hitzebedingte Todesfälle Sommer 2023: Impact-Indikator «Hitzebedingte Todesfälle». Bern: Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU) und Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG), 2024
Ragettli M.S, Schulte F, Röösli M. Monitoring hitzebedingte Todesfälle 2000 bis 2022: Impact-Indikator "Hitzebedingte Todesfälle" Synthesebericht Juli 2023. Bern: Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU), 2023
Ragettli M.S, Schulte F, Röösli M, Rieser R. Monitoring der hitzebedingten Todesfälle in der Schweiz. Schweiz Ärzteztg. 2023;104(43):30-33. DOI: 10.4414/saez.2023.1265825731
Ragettli M, Luyten A, Röösli M. Monitoring hitzebedingte Todesfälle Sommer 2024: Impact-Indikator «Hitzebedingte Todesfälle» 1980-2024. Bern: Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU) und Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG), 2025