New Study: It’s Getting Hot in Here – Understanding Heatwaves & Health
2nd April 2025 – by Aaruthy Suthahar
At TwinsUK, we’re excited to announce our upcoming study, It’s Getting Hot in Here, launching this summer! As heatwaves become more frequent in the UK, we’re looking to gain a deeper understanding of how heat stress impacts older adults. The purpose of this study is to examine how heatwaves affect individuals aged 50 and over, particularly in their homes. We aim to gather vital real-time data on physiological responses, environmental conditions, and activity levels during heat events. By doing so, we hope to improve our understanding of heat-related illness and identify effective ways to prevent harm in future heatwaves.
Why Is This Study Important?
Heatwaves have become more common, and research has shown that older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of heat stress. In fact, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlights that older people are disproportionately impacted by heatwaves, with several thousand excess deaths each year in the UK due to heat-related conditions. This is why we believe it’s crucial to study how heatwaves impact older adults in their day-to-day environments, where they live, and what can be done to mitigate these effects.
Through this study, we plan to measure environmental conditions like temperature and humidity in participants’ homes and track key health metrics such as blood pressure, grip strength, and physical activity levels. We’ll also provide participants with a Garmin to wear throughout the study, allowing us to gather data on their activity levels, which they’ll get to keep once the study is complete!
What’s Involved in the Study?
Participants will experience three home visits:
- First Visit (Spring): This will involve health questionnaires, blood, urine, and stool samples, and physical tests like grip strength and standing up from a chair. We’ll also install environmental monitors in the home to track temperature and humidity.
- Second Visit (During the Heatwave): This visit will take place during a heatwave, and participants will again complete health tests and provide samples. We’ll notify participants a day or two in advance.
- Third Visit (After the Heatwave): Weeks later, we’ll gather the same health data and remove the environmental monitor. Participants will also fill out a questionnaire about their experience.
The study is a critical part of building resilience in older populations, and it will contribute to better strategies for managing heat stress as climate change continues to affect global temperatures.
Quotes from Researchers:
Dr. Mary Ní Lochlainn, Principal Investigator, explains:
“Heatwaves can exacerbate existing health issues, especially in older adults. This study is an exciting opportunity to not only observe real-time physiological responses to heat stress but also gather data that could inform better health interventions for future heat events.”Dr. Ruth Bowyer, co-PI, adds:
“Our goal is to understand the full impact of heatwaves on older adults and to find ways to help reduce risks. We know that heat stress can increase the likelihood of heart and kidney problems, so understanding the mechanisms involved is key to designing better preventive measures.”
As the study will begin in the summer, those who are eligible will receive further information and contact details as we approach the start date. Keep an eye on your inbox for more updates.