Veranstaltungsprogramm

Background: Climate warming-associated heat exposure increasingly constrains older adults’ ability to safely maintain regular, health-promoting physical activity (PA). In temperate regions, rapid population ageing further heightens its public health relevance. Evidence on heat-adaptation strategies for PA remains fragmented and context-specific. We conducted a scoping review to map heat-adaptation measures supporting non-competitive PA in older adults, identify key research gaps and provide actionable guidance for healthcare providers.

Methods: We pre-registered the study on the Open Science Framework (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/25BUE) and followed JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidance. MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Eligible studies included quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research, as well as reviews, reporting non-competitive physical activity in adults aged ≥ 50 years in temperate regions. Competitive sports and grey literature were excluded. Heat-adaptation strategies were charted into five domains: Behavioural, Environmental, Physiological, Institutional and Social.

Results: Twelve studies (9 original papers, 3 reviews) met the inclusion criteria. Evidence is dominated by short-term laboratory trials in Canada, the UK and Japan with healthy men aged 50-73 years. Field studies and studies including frail- or older adult cohorts were lacking. Reported heat-adaptation strategies included: Cold-fluid ingestion within prescribed work-rest ratios (e.g., 3:1 or 1:1) or fan-jacket cooling over a wetted shirt (behavioural); high-velocity airflow, climate-controlled venues and shade provision (environmental); 4-12-day acclimation protocols and post-exercise whey-protein + glucose drinks (physiological); institutional and social strategies were mainly based on expert opinions on supervision, transport support, cultural tailoring and buddy systems.

Conclusions: Low-cost measures can improve heat tolerance in adults over fifty, yet evidence is based on small-scale, male-dominated laboratory research. While cautious optimism is warranted for interim guidance, field trials in real-world settings, oversampling of the oldest adults, inclusion of women and evaluations of institutional and social delivery models are needed.

Background: Extreme heat is intensifying and is associated with increased mortality. However, policy decisions should also consider morbidity outcomes. We systematically synthesized epidemiological evidence on the association between heat exposure and hospitalizations with cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory diseases in warm temperate climates representative of Austria.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review (PROSPERO registration CRD420251015695) in accordance with PRISMA, PRESS, and SWiM guidelines. We searched Medline and Embase (Ovid) until 01/2025, screened reference lists, and applied a-priori defined eligibility criteria. Two reviewers independently performed study selection and data extraction with third reviewer arbitration. Eligible observational studies were from warm temperate climates (Köppen-Geiger climate classification) and assessed associations between heat exposure and cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or respiratory hospitalizations (ICD‑10: I00–I99, J00–J99), adjusting for seasonality, long‑term trends, and lagged effects. We conducted a structured narrative synthesis using vote counting by effect direction. Meta‑analysis was pre-specified.

Results: Forty-one studies from ten countries met inclusion criteria; the majority of which were time-series analyses (n = 38). Meta-analysis was not performed due to substantial methodological and effect heterogeneity (Cochran’s Q I2>80%). Heat-associated increases in hospitalization risk compared to the reference temperature were reported in 7/11 studies for cardiovascular (I00-I99), 5/5 studies for cerebrovascular (I60-I69), and 5/7 studies for respiratory (J00-J99) diseases. Age-stratified analyses showed similar patterns with slightly higher risk among older adults. All six pediatric asthma studies (J43–J46) reported increased heat-associated hospitalization risk.

Conclusion: Despite substantial methodological heterogeneity across studies, study findings suggest that heat exposure is associated with increased hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with particularly consistent signals for cerebrovascular conditions, asthma, and COPD. Most vulnerable groups are older adults and children with asthma; sex-specific findings are divergent. The study results advise Austrian policymakers to consider hospitalization in their policy decisions and to focus adaptation planning on identified relevant groups.

Background: Heat exposure and air pollution are significant environmental stressors to population health. Individuals can adopt protective behaviors to reduce their exposure to heat and air pollution by using personalized warnings and advice. This scoping review aims to assess the effectiveness of individual level warning measures about heat and/or air pollution on health.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review by systematically searching for peer-reviewed primary research studies and systematic reviews. Literature search was performed in Embase (Ovid) and MEDLINE (Ovid) using the PRESS 2015 guideline until July 2025. Two independent researchers screened studies in Rayyan based on predefined eligibility criteria. We included quantitative studies evaluating individual-level, information-based heat and/or air pollution warnings delivered via personalized communication channels (e.g., mobile apps, phone calls), excluding studies using non-tailored mass communication and LICs. Data were extracted using ELICIT, verified by one researcher with spot checks by another, and synthesized using evidence gap maps and narrative and tabular summaries.

Results: We included a total of 13 studies; 9/13 focusing on air pollution and 4/13 on heat early warning systems, respectively. Five studies delivered warnings via applications, three through phone calls, two through text messages/emails/SMS, one through print media, one study actively delivered the intervention, and another study used a tablet interface to send out the warning. Studies were conducted in UK (4/13), Canada (3/13), USA (3/13), Australia (2/13), and Japan (1/13). Reported outcomes included behavioral change (9/13), increased awareness (6/13), symptom reduction (6/13), reduced healthcare utilization (4/13), improved quality of life (3/13), and fewer hospitalizations (2/13), with heterogeneous associations between the warning systems and health outcomes.

Conclusion: There is minimal and heterogeneous evidence on the effect of individualized warning systems for heat and air pollution on health. The findings have the potential to be used in designing targeted warning systems for different vulnerable groups.

Over the past decade, extreme heat has become an increasingly significant health hazard, resulting in higher rates of morbidity and mortality. It disproportionately affects those living in vulnerable situations, including people experiencing extreme poverty or homelessness, those living with chronic illnesses and older adults. Despite its profound mental and physical health impacts, extreme heat is often underestimated, which hinders effective disaster preparedness.

Sonar Cities explores how urban resilience to health emergencies and disasters can be strengthened through participatory, community-centered approaches. It is being carried out in six European cities: Vienna, Groningen, Ljubljana, Stockholm, Udine, and Zagreb. It prioritizes the lived experiences and needs of people in vulnerable situations. In Vienna, the project focuses on extreme heat. Methods include qualitative interviews with key stakeholders and individuals in vulnerable situations, as well as body mapping, an arts-based approach that makes the lived experiences of extreme heat visible beyond purely verbal data collection.

Our findings suggest a significant gap in inclusive risk communication and the systematic involvement of people in vulnerable situations in heat preparedness measures. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a significant role in translating risk communication for their clients and acting as trusted community spaces. However, existing services are often insufficiently tailored to the needs of people in vulnerable situations or lack visibility. Furthermore, body mapping results provide valuable insights into the embodied experiences, perceptions and coping strategies of people in vulnerable situations in relation to extreme heat.

These findings suggest that effective and inclusive heat preparedness necessitates institutionalized participatory structures. Through a co-creation process involving people in vulnerable situations, CSOs, emergency responders, and municipal authorities, Sonar-Cities will develop, pilot and implement a toolset to promote more inclusive disaster preparedness.

The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No.101168315.