The overlapping impacts of heat and COVID-19 on mortality: A time-series analysis

At the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic introduced new public health challenges on top of existing health risks related to heat. The coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused a significant increase in mortality and led to changes in behavior, such as lockdowns and social distancing. At the same time, heat can cause serious health problems such as heart attacks and strokes, especially among older adults and individuals with pre-existing conditions. What remains unclear is how the combination of heat and COVID-19 has affected mortality rates.

This is particularly relevant for Belgium, as the most severe heatwave ever recorded occurred in August 2020, precisely when COVID-19 was active. In this study, we aim to investigate how heat and COVID-19 together influenced mortality. We hypothesize that there may have been a link between the 2020 heatwave and the two COVID-19 waves, with COVID-19 potentially exacerbating heat-related mortality. Through this study, we seek to accurately measure the extent of this combined impact on mortality.

Mortality