Italy heatwave causes rise in elderly mortality during July

A report from the Italian Ministry of Health regarding heatwave monitoring for July indicates an 8% increase in mortality among individuals over the age of 85. The impact was more pronounced in Northern cities, which saw a 9% increase, compared to a 7% increase in Central and Southern regions.

While mortality for the 64-74 and 75-84 age groups was lower than expected, significant excess mortality among those over 65 was noted in several southern cities, including Reggio Calabria, Messina, Palermo, and Cagliari. In the Ferrara region, 123 elderly people died during the heatwave, a figure slightly below the expected 131.

Other regional data showed mortality above expectations in Parma, Modena, Ravenna, and Rimini, while cities such as Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, and Forlì recorded deaths below predicted levels. Overall, the Ministry described the health impact of the high temperatures in Italy as “contained,” noting that total mortality remained largely in line with expected trends.