Heat Death Associations with the built environment, social vulnerability and their interactions with rising temperature

The occurrence of extreme heat events in the American Southwest are expected to become
more frequent and severe and it is more important to understand which neighborhoods and
populations are at risk of negative heat-health outcomes. Vulnerability to heat is a function
of its heat exposure, population characteristics, and adaptive capacity. This study focuses on
underlying socioeconomic and demographic characteristics that contribute to this
vulnerability. The contributions of these factors to heat mortality in Maricopa County, AZ
were explored and used to identify areas where vulnerable populations exist.