Survey finds 78% of low-income elderly in Hong Kong report heat-related distress

AI-summarized · Neutrality-checked

A Greenpeace survey of 127 low-income residents aged 65 or above in Hong Kong revealed that 78 per cent experienced physical or mental distress due to extreme heat. The city’s Department of Health identified this demographic as most at risk, noting that heatstroke-related hospital discharges and deaths among those 65 or older increased 16-fold between 2015 and 2024. This trend coincided with record-breaking temperatures, including a peak of 36.9 degrees Celsius recorded earlier this month. The findings highlighted that 5.5 per cent of respondents were hospitalised for heat-related illness in the previous year, with many living in public or inadequate housing.

Consequences

The reported rise in heat-related morbidity and mortality among the elderly has prompted calls for the implementation of stronger government support and heat-prevention measures. Continued extreme temperature events may further strain the city's healthcare resources as the number of heatstroke cases among the aging population increases.

Sources

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