Heat-related deaths accelerated in the last 7 years, Journal of American Medical Association study finds

Americans are more at risk from the deadly effects of heat than ever before, a new study found.

Researchers from the Journal of the American Medical Association say there were 21,518 deaths from 1999-2023 where heat was either the underlying cause or the contributing cause of death, a possible underestimation, they say. In total, heat-related deaths have increased 117% since 1999.

The authors of the study, which was released Monday, used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to calculate the mortality rates.