Very high or low temperatures increase risk of death

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the UK has released official figures on the number of deaths in England and Wales that have been related to ‘extreme’ temperatures.

Both very low and very high temperatures had higher mortality risk, with temperatures below -5°C and above 25°C representing the greatest risk across England and Wales, according to the ONS.

Its study revealed that very cold temperatures are the biggest threat to life, with an estimated 199,298 deaths in England and 16,474 deaths in Wales associated with the coldest days over the 35 years from 1988 to 2022.

The hottest days over the past 35 years, though, have also been associated with an estimated 51,670 deaths in England, and 2,186 deaths in Wales.

The ONS said that there was ‘some indication that heat-related deaths have increased over recent years’. It said that in 2022 alone, an estimated 4,507 deaths were associated with the hottest days of the year in England.

The UK experienced record-breaking heat, alongside other countries throughout Europe, in summer 2022. This trend of extreme heat continued this summer, with countries throughout Europe, such as Greece and Portugal, experiencing huge wildfires, affecting residents, holidaymakers and businesses.