During the three heatwave periods, excess all-cause mortality nationwide is estimated at 2,816 deaths, representing a relative excess mortality rate of +16.7%. These episodes occurred against a unique backdrop, both in terms of public health—with a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic—and in terms of climate conditions. This assessment highlights the importance of anticipating the impact of heat before heat waves occur and thus reinforces the need for a strengthened climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy across the entire country. Regional reports are also available.

Heat-related emergency care visits throughout the summer

Between June 1 and September 15, 2022, more than 20,000 healthcare visits (emergency room visits, SOS Médecins consultations) were recorded throughout the summer for the “iCanicule” health indicator, which includes hyperthermia, dehydration, and hyponatremia.

Among these healthcare visits, more than 17,000 emergency room visits—including 10,000 hospitalizations—were recorded. More than half (51%) of emergency room visits and 29% of SOS Médecins consultations involved people aged 75 and older.

These healthcare visits doubled in emergency rooms and tripled for SOS Médecins consultations during heat waves, compared to periods without heat waves.

These emergency care visits do not allow us to predict the impact of heat on mortality.

2,816 excess deaths during heatwave periods

The impact of heat waves on mortality is estimated by comparing the number of deaths observed during these episodes to the number of deaths that would have been expected in the absence of a heat wave. The calculated estimates correspond to excess deaths observed during heat waves in the affected departments, but cannot be attributed solely to heat.

In 2022, for the three heatwave periods² and in the affected departments, 2,816 excess deaths were estimated, representing a relative excess mortality rate of +16.7%.

Four regions account for nearly two-thirds of the national excess: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (+473 deaths), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (+436 deaths), Occitanie (+509 deaths), and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (+316 deaths). These regions were the hardest hit by heat waves, with the most intense impact in the Southwest and repeated, prolonged heat waves in the Southeast.

The highest excess mortality was observed during the second heatwave (+22.7%), in July. People aged 75 and older were the hardest hit, with 2,272 excess deaths—representing 1 in 6 excess deaths among those aged 75 and older.

The relative excess mortality observed in departments under red alert (+19.9%) is higher than in other departments.

For the three heatwave periods³ and in the affected departments, 894 deaths linked to the COVID-19 pandemic were recorded in hospitals and long-term care facilities^⁴. Three-quarters of these deaths also involved people aged 75 and older. These deaths cannot be subtracted from the excess mortality observed during heat waves: COVID-19 may have increased heat vulnerability for some people, and exposure to heat may have worsened the condition of some patients with COVID-19.

Considering the entire 2022 summer monitoring period (June 1 to September 15), 10,420 excess deaths from all causes (+6.1%) were estimated in metropolitan France. Part of this excess summer mortality is likely due to the population’s exposure to high temperatures, even though these temperatures did not reach heat wave alert thresholds. Estimating the proportion attributable to this factor requires further analysis, which is currently underway at Santé publique France.

Furthermore, during the surveillance period, 7 reports of fatal workplace accidents potentially linked to heat were submitted by the General Directorate of Labor to Santé publique France. The victims were men aged 39 to 54, with a median age of 44. These fatal workplace accidents occurred primarily during outdoor work activities, including 3 in the construction sector.

Intensification of Climate Change

The summer of 2022 is part of the trend observed in recent years, during which an intensification of exposure to heat waves has been noted, resulting in an increase in associated health impacts. The heatwaves of summer 2022 were accompanied by other climatic phenomena: a prolonged and intense drought across the entire country and wildfires affecting regions previously spared. All of these phenomena could intensify with climate change.

Since 2015, widespread heatwaves that are atypical in terms of intensity, duration, and geographic scope have all resulted in significant excess mortality.

Against this backdrop of climate change, this assessment underscores the need for a strengthened strategy for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change at both the national and regional levels.

Preventing the Health Effects of Heat Waves

The prevention program, designed to encourage the adoption of health-promoting behaviors during heat waves, was supplemented this year by a pilot text messaging initiative.

It consists of two components.

• The “non-heatwave” component, activated prior to the start of the monitoring period, informs local and regional stakeholders (Regional Health Agencies, prefectures, municipalities, networks for the elderly/home care, early childhood networks, disability networks, associations of healthcare professionals, etc.) about the tools available for order (posters, informational leaflets for distribution) and made available to them.

• The “Heatwave” component, activated only during heatwave episodes, includes tools broadcast on radio or shared via social media, as well as one TV spot and two radio spots (in English and French), which are broadcast only upon media request.

For the first time, text messages were sent on a large scale, on an experimental basis, to populations vulnerable to heat (people aged 65 and older, pregnant women, and parents of young children) during yellow and orange alerts. In total, during the three heatwave episodes, more than 4 million text messages were sent.

In addition, the toll-free “Canicule Info Service” hotline, which provides advice on how to protect oneself and others—particularly those most vulnerable to heat—was activated for a total of 26 days this year between June 16 and August 13.

The current prevention system is undergoing an evaluation that will assess its coverage and effectiveness and identify ways to improve prevention efforts as part of a strategy to adapt to climate change.