Linking Cardiovascular Mortality and Suicide Risks with Extreme Weather Events in Lithuania under Climate Change (CliMed-LT)

Mortality from stroke, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and suicide remains a major burden on healthcare systems both globally and in Lithuania. Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and one of the leading causes in Lithuania, where stroke mortality is twice the EU average. AMI is responsible for 38% of deaths from cardiovascular disease in women and 44% in men. At the same time, Lithuania has long been one of the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world. International epidemiological studies from the US, China, Japan, South Korea, and across Europe increasingly show that extreme weather events, including heat waves, cold spells, air pressure fluctuations, prolonged rainfall, and sunshine duration are associated with an increased the risk of stroke, heart attack and suicide. However, the mechanisms in Lithuania’s specific climatic and demographic context are still poorly understood and researched. CliMed-LT aims to uncover the links between extreme weather events and their impact on public health in particular suicide rates and mortality from non-communicable diseases in Lithuania. The project will link long-term, high-resolution meteorological data (e.g., air temperature, precipitation, air pressure) with national health registers on stroke, cardiovascular, and suicide mortality. Advanced forecasting modelling will be developed to identify high-risk patterns, quantify their health impact, and simulate future scenarios considering climate change projections. The project will also propose early warning indicators and develop evidence-based recommendations to improve national health preparedness and resilience. By combining environmental and health information in a novel, interdisciplinary approach, CliMed-LT will contribute to a deeper understanding of the interactions between climate and health and support the development of more proactive, adaptive, and resilient health systems in Lithuania.

Keywords:
NCD mortality, Suicides, Mental health, Risk assessment, Extreme weather events, Climate change, Meteorology, Climate projections

Project ID: P-MIP-25-295
Total cost: 199,995.00 EUR (LEI part: 88,773.69 EUR).
Coordinator: LSMU
Partners: LSMU, LEI