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A major new report from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) sets out how health services need to protect vulnerable patients during heat waves. The report by a group of international experts is published in the European Heart Journal and brings together all existing research on how to prevent deaths and hospitalizations during heat waves in people with different forms of cardiovascular disease.

It details the need for hospital surge capacity during heat waves; proactive home health care to monitor patients and provide cooling resources, such as fans; suitable storage for medication; and monitoring for signs of dehydration and overhydration in vulnerable patients.

Dr. Georgia Chaseling from the University of Sydney in Australia is an author of the report. She said, "We already know that extreme heat is not simply a matter of discomfort; it places considerable stress on the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of illness and death. But understanding the problem is only the first step.

"Doctors and other health care professionals need practical guidance on what they can do to protect their patients. In this report we translate the scientific evidence into practical advice that health care professionals can use before, during and after periods of extreme heat."

The report has been published on behalf of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions, the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care, the European Association of Preventive Cardiology, the Heart Failure Association and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC, the ESC Council on Hypertension, the ESC Council on Stroke and the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy.

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