Temperature extremes, increasingly common due to climate change, are linked to higher rates of missed primary care appointments, according to a study by Drexel University researchers published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The study found a 0.72% increase in missed appointments for each 1°F decrease in temperatures below 39°F and a 0.64% increase for each 1°F rise above 89°F. This trend was particularly notable among patients 65 and older and those with chronic conditions.
Dr. Nathalie S. May emphasized the need for clinical teams to adapt to these findings to ensure continued care access for patients, especially as climate change worsens.
The study analyzed over one million appointments from nearly 92,000 patients at 13 outpatient clinics in Philadelphia from 2009 to 2019, linking appointment data with daily temperature and precipitation records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The research controlled for seasonal trends, demographic attributes, and chronic disease status.
The study’s authors suggest that telemedicine, which reduced missed appointments by 13% during the COVID-19 pandemic, should be a permanent option to mitigate the impact of extreme weather on healthcare access. Dr. Janet H. Fitzpatrick highlighted telemedicine’s potential to ensure patients receive necessary care amid worsening climate conditions.
Despite expectations, the study found no significant association between higher social deprivation index (SDI) and missed appointments, potentially due to the high percentage of privately insured patients in the study. The researchers noted that the SDI might not accurately reflect individual patients’ risk of missing appointments.
The findings align with broader research linking climate change to various health problems, including chronic diseases and mental health issues. The study underscores the unique impact of extreme weather on primary care attendance, differing from past research.
Future studies should explore transportation access and other factors influencing missed appointments to develop comprehensive strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on healthcare.
