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Study Warns of Heat Wave Dangers to Seniors with Diabetes, Heart Disease

On Nov. 26, 2025, UCLA-led researchers reported that about 13,600 California veterans with cardiometabolic conditions died during 2016–2021, with heat linked to higher mortality, Shannon said.
Veterans are particularly vulnerable because they tend to be older, have heart disease or diabetes, use risky medications, and many live unhoused or in low-income urban neighborhoods with urban heat islands.
Overall data show veterans faced 10% to 14% higher mortality on hot days, with 44% greater odds in disadvantaged neighborhoods and 25% versus 12% risk for homeless versus housed veterans.
Researchers urged the VA and integrated healthcare systems to develop heat preparedness plans, noting veterans with heart-risk factors remain vulnerable despite reduced care barriers; the team is developing a toolkit for homeless veterans.
With climate change accelerating, heatwaves raise death risks for older people with diabetes or heart disease, but study limitations regarding location and indoor heat mean findings may not generalize beyond California; authors say results likely apply to non-veteran populations.

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