Health Perceptions of Adverse Weather in Older Adults in England: Analysis of 2019/20 Survey Data

Abstract

Introduction: Health risks to vulnerable groups associated with hot and cold weather are well-documented. Older adults, aged 65 and above, are particularly vulnerable to higher and lower temperatures. Aim: To explore older adult perception of health risks from high and low temperatures, what health-protective measures they have undertaken, and the factors associated with risks and responses. Methods: Ipsos MORI conducted face-to-face surveys for the UK Health Security Agency with 461 participants in the cold weather survey and 452 in the hot weather survey. Participants reported temperature-related symptoms, risk perceptions for different groups, and behaviours during hot and cold weather. Data analysis involved using binomial logistic regression models to assess potential factors (demographics, vulnerability, behaviours, and responses) associated with older adults' health risk perception in hot and cold weather. Results: Less than half of older adults in both surveys agreed that hot or cold weather posed a risk to their health. Older adults with higher education, household income >£25,000 annually or home ownership were less likely to perceive their health at risk during cold weather. In both surveys, older adults who perceived people of the same age or people living alone as at an increased risk were more likely to perceive their own health as at risk. Furthermore, during cold weather, older adults were more likely to self-identify their health at risk when reporting other adults aged 65yrs+ to be at an increased risk, but not during hot weather. Various temperature-related protective behaviours were associated with older adults' risk perception in hot and cold weather. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for effective risk communication strategies and targeted health messaging for older adults to support self-identification of risk. Future research should focus on barriers to risk perception and promoting health-protective behaviours in this population.