A research paper titled "Temperature-related hospitalization burden under climate change" has been published online in Nature. [Photo/ruc.edu.cn]

A recent study titled "Temperature-related hospitalization burden under climate change" was published in Nature, co-led by Professor Pan Wei and Assistant Professor Pan Dongyang from Renmin University of China's School of Applied Economics. This research addresses the critical intersection of climate change and public health, areas often underexplored in China due to a lack of large-scale, data-driven studies. 

In collaboration with Wang Xinghuan, professor from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, the team conducted a comprehensive study using daily hospitalization data from nearly 90 percent of Chinese cities. They analyzed the relationship between temperature fluctuations and hospital admission risks across six climate-sensitive disease categories. The study further projected hospitalization risks associated with extreme temperatures up to the year 2100 under three global scenarios of carbon emissions and climate change, and introduced an innovative "hospitalization economic burden index" for each city. 

The study revealed that exposure to extreme temperatures increases hospital admissions for several diseases, including those related to pregnancy, circulation, and respiration. Cities in Northwest and Southwest China already show a "dual vulnerability" to both heat and cold. In the future, high temperatures are projected to substantially increase hospitalization numbers and related economic burdens, particularly in vulnerable regions and for the elderly and young populations. These findings provide strong data support for targeted medical resource allocation and evidence-based policymaking in addressing climate-related health risks.

Addressing the intertwined challenges of climate change and public health is, at its core, a cross-disciplinary endeavor. This research brings together experts from economics, statistics, clinical medicine and public health, creating a collaborative framework that bridges the humanities, sciences and medicine. From acquiring and processing massive medical datasets, to building and validating complex statistical models, from scientifically forecasting climate scenarios to innovatively designing economic burden indices — each step reflects the synergy of diverse disciplines.

This work not only advances scientific understanding but also exemplifies China's emerging "New Liberal Arts" — a model of inquiry that merges the humanities' concern for human well-being with the precision and innovation of the natural sciences, thereby enhancing both scientific validity and social relevance.

About the authors:

Professor Pan Wei is a faculty member at RUC's School of Applied Economics. In the era of digital transformation and health innovation, his research centers on data processing and analysis, addressing complex issues at the intersection of economic development, climate change, and public health. He has published more than 60 papers as a leading author. 

Pan Wei [Photo/ruc.edu.cn]

Assistant Professor Pan Dongyang, also from the School of Applied Economics, has been making in-depth efforts in green finance, carbon economy, energy economy, health and wellness, among other areas.

Pan Dongyang [Photo/ruc.edu.cn]

Paper Link: Temperature-related hospitalization burden under climate change