\u201cClimate change is the greatest health threat facing humanity today\u201d (WHO, 2021). This statement by the World Health Organisation is a reality, especially in the vulnerable group of people over 65 years of age. This group suffers disproportionately from the effects of climate change due to, among other factors, the physiological changes that come with the ageing process, the suffering of chronic diseases, dependency, polymedication, low socioeconomic status and insufficient family and social support networks. The 2030 Agenda, established by the United Nations in 2015, presents a global action plan to address, through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the challenges that climate change poses to the health of older people. Understanding how climate change impacts the health of the older population would help provide quality health care to this group at climate risk. For this reason, our research team has carried out a scoping review to understand and map the effects of climate change on the health of older people, recently published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing. To prepare the review, the methodological recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) were followed, so a previous protocol previously published in the BMJ Open journal was developed. This research has revealed that older people are especially sensitive to extreme heat and air pollution, causing an increase in morbidity and mortality related to climate change. Extreme heat causes a strong impact on the cardiovascular, circulatory, respiratory, renal and digestive systems. In contrast, extremely low temperatures have an impact on cardiovascular, circulatory and respiratory health problems, mainly. Air pollution also has a strong impact on cardiocirculatory and respiratory health, worsening pre-existing respiratory problems in older people. In addition, it is an important risk factor for the development or acceleration of cognitive decline in this population group. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods or droughts are more closely related to cardiovascular and digestive problems, injuries and trauma, infectious diseases and the development of mental health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, the results of this review have been used to draft the knowledge items of a new tool recently created to measure nursing competencies in the health of older people: Older People\u2019s Environmental Health Nursing Competencies Questionnaire (OPEH-NCQ), composed of a knowledge questionnaire (OPEH-KQ), a skills scale (OPEH-SS) and an attitude scale (OPEH-AS) on the effects of climate change on the health of older people. This instrument has been validated in nursing professionals and students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scoping Review Protocol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Montoro-Ram\u00edrez EM, Parra-Anguita L, \u00c1lvarez-Nieto C, Parra G, L\u00f3pez-Medina, IM. Effects of climate change in the elderly\u2019s health: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open<\/em> 2022;12:e058063. doi:10.1136\/bmjopen-2021-058063. Accesible en: https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/content\/12\/4\/e058063<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scoping Review:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Montoro-Ram\u00edrez EM, Parra-Anguita L, \u00c1lvarez-Nieto C, Parra G, L\u00f3pez-Medina, IM. Climate Change Effects in Older People\u2019s Health: A Scoping Review. JAN<\/em> 2024;00,1\u201314. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/jan.16270<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n