Heat Impacts on Radiology Equity and Access for Cardiovascular Health (HI-REACH)

Increasing temperatures can increase the number of patients who experience heat-related heart disease, who may need imaging services. This imaging is crucial for diagnosing and treating heart conditions. During extreme heat, surges in demand for this imaging service can potentially overwhelm healthcare facilities, and may further widen health disparities in access to imaging. Our one-year preliminary University of Maryland data shows this surge in demand, where more heart-related imaging was needed in the summer months.  This project will examine how individual- and neighborhood-level social determinants of health (such as location, income, education) can influence access to heart-related imaging during extreme heat. We plan to analyze data from University of Maryland imaging records, weather patterns, and social determinants of health, to identify the locations and populations most affected by extreme heat and disparities in imaging access.  Our study aims to improve healthcare system readiness for heat events, ensuring heart imaging services are accessible to all, and highlighting those communities experiencing disparities. This research aligns with MACCHE's mission to enhance cardiometabolic health equity by mitigating the impact of environmental factors on health disparities. The findings could provide a model for similar initiatives in other regions, extending the reach and impact of this initial MACCHE project.