"Burden on Vulnerable Groups... Must Be Considered in Energy Policy"
A study has found that exposure to cold while trying to save on heating costs can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
A joint research team consisting of Professor Hyungjin Yoon from the Department of Human Systems Medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine, Professor Kyungnam Kim from the Department of Preventive Medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine, Professor Suhwan Kim from the Department of Information and Statistics at Gyeongsang National University, and data scientist Yujin Park from Kangbuk Samsung Hospital revealed these findings in the recent issue of the international journal Environmental Research.
The research team analyzed big data on cardiovascular disease hospitalizations and deaths (5,958,617 cases) that occurred from January 2012 to February 2017 across 16 cities and provinces nationwide, examining the impact of changes in domestic heating energy prices on winter cardiovascular disease hospitalizations.
The results showed that the risk of hospitalization due to cardiovascular disease caused by cold waves was 1.71 times higher during the period when natural gas prices were continuously rising (January 2012 to December 2014) compared to the period when natural gas prices were continuously falling (January 2015 to February 2017).
The research team interpreted this as a result of consumption patterns where heating usage is reduced to maintain heating costs when natural gas prices rise, and conversely, energy usage increases when natural gas prices fall.
Professor Hyungjin Yoon explained, “This is the first study to indirectly demonstrate, using natural gas prices as an indicator, that even if outdoor temperatures are low, maintaining an appropriate indoor temperature can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Blood vessels respond sensitively to sudden drops in temperature or large daily temperature variations; for every 1-degree drop in temperature, systolic blood pressure increases by 1.3 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 0.6 mmHg, placing a burden on the heart.
For this reason, cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction occur more frequently in winter when average temperatures fall. This risk is especially higher in individuals with underlying conditions such as old age, hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia.
These findings align with overseas reports indicating that changes in energy prices can modulate the impact of cold and cold waves, either amplifying or reducing their effects.
In Europe, the winter of 2022 saw 68,000 excess deaths due to heating cost issues caused by the natural gas crisis.
Professor Yoon emphasized, “Vulnerable groups may not be able to heat sufficiently despite cold weather due to the burden of heating costs, making them less able to adequately respond to cardiovascular risks caused by cold waves. This should be an important consideration when formulating energy-related policies.”
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