How extreme heat affects heart and lung health and what health systems can do
Official title: Assessing the relationship between extreme heat and cardiovascular and pulmonary outcomes to identify strategies for health system intervention
Funded at Geisinger Clinic · NIH-11423665 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how very hot weather affects heart and lung events and how hospitals and clinics can reduce these risks for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Geisinger Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Danville, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $660,360 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL179687-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423665 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults within the Geisinger system who experience heat-related cardiovascular or pulmonary events or are at risk for such events.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the health system or without exposure to extreme heat-related risks may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
The research will use Geisinger’s electronic health records to find patterns where extreme heat coincides with heart and lung problems like asthma, COPD, heart attacks, and strokes. It will identify specific heat exposure features that trigger or worsen these conditions and explore how patient and community factors influence these relationships. The study focuses on acute events in a real-world health system setting, aiming to translate findings into practical health-system interventions. Results could guide heat-ready protocols, alerts, and community health actions to protect patients during heat waves.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help health systems reduce heat-related heart and lung events and improve patient safety during extreme heat.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked heat exposure to cardiovascular and respiratory events, but this project aims to pinpoint actionable health-system strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Geisinger Clinic
Danville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Poulsen, Melissa — Geisinger Clinic
- Study coordinator: Poulsen, Melissa
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.