Projection of Heat-Related Health Effects Under Climate Change Scenarios in Asia: A Systematic Review

Climate change is a major challenge which currently affecting all nations. Asia is among the regions highly vulnerable to extreme events due to climate change, including heat and its related health effects. Furthermore, extreme heat events are projected to become more frequent and intense. However, reviews projecting the health impacts of heat in Asia are limited. This study was conducted to provide an updated and comprehensive systematic review assessing heat and the related health effects across Asia. A literature search was conducted using the Web of Science, SCOPUS, OVID MEDLINE (R) and PubMed databases, focused on original research articles published from January 2018 to June 2023. Most of the included studies were from China, Iran, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Türkiye and Vietnam. This findings determined that the significant health effects were increased projection trend for mortality (all causes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases) and morbidity (intestinal infectious diseases). This review provides comprehensive, updated information on the heat health effects and vulnerable populations in Asia. The results can aid the identification and implementation of mitigation and adaptation plans to enhance preparation and resiliency against the adverse heat health effects of climate change.