More people are missing doctors’ appointments due to climate-driven temperatures The rate of missed appointments increases as a day becomes hotter or colder, researchers found Telemedicine might help people make appointments during extreme weather MONDAY, July 22, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- More folks, especially seniors, are missing doctors’ appointments due to extreme weather, a new study shows. The rate of missed primary care appointments increases 0.64% for every 1-degree increase in temperatures 90 degrees or hotter, researchers reported recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine .
The same goes for cold days, with the rate of missed appointments increasing by 0.72% for every 1-degree decrease in temperatures below 39 degrees. Patients aged 65 and older and those with chronic diseases were most likely to miss appointments as temperatures grew more extreme, researchers found.
“When patients don’t show up at appointments, they damage their own health and also cause downstream consequences for others,” said lead researcher Dr. Janet Fitzpatrick , a clinical associate professor with the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. “No-shows waste valuable appointment slots that could be used for others anxiously awaiting appointments and can lead to decreased patient satisfaction due to longer wait times,” Fitzpatrick added in a university news release.
“It also makes our nation’s healthcare system more expensive, due to increased use o.