Air Conditioning in Nursing Homes and Mortality During Extreme Heat

What is the mortality associated with extreme heat that would be averted by requiring all nursing homes to provide air conditioning (AC)?This case-crossover study of 73 578 resident deaths in 2010 to 2023 found that extreme heat was associated with significantly increased odds of mortality in nursing homes without AC compared to those with AC (odds ratio, 1.11 vs 1.03, respectively). Overall, AC was associated with significantly lower relative odds of mortality on extreme heat days (relative odds ratio, 0.93).These findings suggest that AC provision in nursing homes and other congregate care settings is important for preventing heat-related mortality.

Corresponding Author: Nathan M. Stall, MD, PhD, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Ave, Ste 18-268, Toronto ON M5G 1X5, Canada (nathan.stall@sinaihealth.ca).

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