Disentangling the effects of extreme heat and cold waves on health outcomes in people with multimorbidity

About the Project

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Project Description

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat and cold waves, posing a major threat to population health. Exposure to temperature extremes has been consistently associated with higher risks of mortality, cardiovascular and respiratory events, and hospital admissions. However, little is known about how these effects differ in people living with multimorbidity, a rapidly growing and particularly vulnerable population.

This PhD project aims to disentangle the effects of extreme heat and cold exposure on health outcomes in people with multimorbidity, using a combination of population-based data analysis and controlled experimental approaches. The project will analyse large-scale longitudinal and routinely collected health datasets linked to high-resolution environmental data to quantify associations between heat and cold waves and adverse health outcomes, and to assess whether the number, type, and clustering of chronic conditions modify vulnerability to temperature extremes.

To complement observational analyses, the project will also include intervention studies conducted in an environmental chamber, where controlled exposure to heat and cold conditions will be used to examine acute physiological responses in individuals with multimorbidity. These experiments will provide mechanistic insight into thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and metabolic responses that cannot be captured through observational data alone.

Advanced epidemiological and statistical methods will be applied, including survival analyses and distributed lag models. Findings from this project will inform clinical risk stratification, public health preparedness, and climate adaptation strategies, helping to protect vulnerable populations as climate-related temperature extremes become more common.

Funding Notes

We are currently seeking enthusiastic students who are either planning to apply for scholarships or have already secured funding from their home countries scholarships or other research organisations. If this project intrigues you and aligns with your academic interests, we encourage you to get in touch to discuss potential opportunities. Applicants must hold a scholarship or be planning to apply for one.