Heatwave sends more elderly to hospital in Aarhus

More elderly patients than usual were admitted to Aarhus University Hospital’s emergency department over the weekend as Denmark recorded its highest temperatures of the year, public broadcaster DR reports.

Temperatures reached 37°C in Ødum, East Jutland, on Saturday, setting a new national heat record. Cheflæge Lubna Rafiq Kokholm of the hospital’s emergency department said the heat had led to an increase in elderly admissions, primarily due to dehydration.

“It’s mainly the elderly we’re seeing. They forget to drink in the heat, and if you’re older, you might be on medication or have fluid restrictions, and then you forget to adjust for the heat,” Kokholm said.

She noted that dehydration in older adults can lead to confusion and headaches, and that many only seek help when relatives notice they are unwell. The emergency department also treated young people, but numbers were consistent with a typical warm summer day.

Kokholm advised frequent hydration, even without feeling thirsty, avoiding direct sun during peak heat, and seeking shade while cooling down throughout the day.