A Multistate Study on Housing Factors Influential to Heat-Related Illness in the United States

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of devastating and unpredictable extreme heat events, developments to the built environment should consider instigating practices that minimize the likelihood of indoor overheating during hot weather. Heatwaves are the leading cause of death among weather-related causes worldwide, including in developed and developing countries. In this empirical study, three housing characteristic categories (i.e., general housing conditions, living conditions, and housing thermal resistance) and eight variables were analyzed in twenty-seven states in the United States using multivariable regression models. Three variables—housing age (HA), housing crowding ratio (HCR), and roof condition (RC)—were found to be correlated with the risk of heat-related illness (HRI) indexes. Then, a logistic regression model was generated using the three variables to predict the risk of heat-related emergency department visits (EDV) and heat-related mortality (MORD) on a state level. The results indicate that the proposed logistic regression model correctly predicted 100% of the high-risk states for MORD for the eight states tested. Overall, this analysis provides additional evidence about the housing character variables that influence HRI. The outcomes also demonstrate that the built environment, especially housing, should be considered in techniques for mitigating climate change-exacerbated health conditions.