Background and Objective: Rapid aging and climate change are two major global challenges of the 21st century. This study was conducted to identify the effects of climate change on the health of older adults.
Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted by comprehensively searching the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science electronic databases using the keywords elderly, aging, older people, health, and climate change, in English. Articles from 2014 to February 2023 following the PRISMA checklist were examined. Studies were included if they were published in English, had full text available, and focused on a population of people over 60 years old. Simulated studies were excluded.
Results: The quality of these studies was reported to be moderate to good according to the STROBE checklist. The results showed that climate change negatively impacts the physical, mental and social health of the elderly. It causes an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory diseases, as well as depression. Additionally, it leads to a reduction in daily activities, an increase in hospitalization rates and higher mortality. Among various climate changes, the increase in temperature poses the greatest to the health of older adults.
Conclusion: Climate changes, particularly the rise in temperature, have the most significant negative impact on the physical health of older adults. Therefore, there is a pressing need for increased focus on environmental sustainability, the development of public health intervention policies, and the implementation of adaptive strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures for older adults.
