Public health impacts of cold weather: Epidemiologic evidence and policy considerations

Abstract

While cold weather is often viewed primarily as an environmental exposure, public health increasingly recognizes its disproportionate impacts on people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. A 2023 report from BC Coroners Service documented a significant increase in deaths among people experiencing homelessness in recent years. Limited access to shelter and protection from the cold, in combination to other underlying risk factors, may contribute to increased mortality and illness in this population.

This presentation will provide an overview of the current evidence on the public health impacts of cold weather exposure and share findings from a recent study at the BCCDC. Drawing on experiences from BC’s Interior Health communities and provincial guidance, it will also explore the role of public health in monitoring health impacts, informing policy, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and advancing housing as a key determinant of health.

Speakers

Dr. Silvina Mema is Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer with Interior Health and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia. In her public health leadership roles, she works across a range of population health issues including housing and homelessness, environmental health, climate related health impacts, substance use, and health equity. Dr. Mema has led and collaborated on research examining the health impacts of homelessness and barriers to care for marginalized populations, including recent work on frostbite and hypothermia among people experiencing homelessness in British Columbia. She is committed to advancing evidence informed public health practice through research, policy development, and cross sector collaboration.

Dr. Jiayun Angela Yao, PhD is a Senior Scientist at the Environmental Health Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Angela leads the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Program at BCCDC, supporting regional and provincial public health partners in climate adaptation with data and scientific evidence. She led the epidemiologic study on the public health impacts of cold weather exposure, with a focus on population experiencing homelessness, and supported the development of provincial public health guidance. Angela received her doctoral degree in population and public health from SPPH at UBC.