Associations Between the Experience of Extreme Weather Events and Perceived Health Status Among U.S. Adults in the Health Information National Trends Survey, 2024.

INTRODUCTION

Extreme weather harms health directly by causing illnesses or injuries and indirectly through healthcare disruptions. Understanding how adults in the U.S. are affected by extreme weather could inform preparedness efforts to prevent poor health outcomes.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from the Health Information National Trends Survey 7, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey administered to U.S. adults in 2024 (N=6,124). Weighted descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were conducted in 2025 to examine the relationship between the level to which one's neighborhood was affected by extreme weather in the past year (not at all, some/a little, a lot) and health status (poor [1] to excellent [5]). Sex at birth, age, ethnicity, education, metropolitan status, region, smoking status, and presence of health conditions were covariates.

RESULTS

Nearly 9% of U.S. adults reported that their neighborhood was affected a lot by extreme weather events in the past year (95% CI=7.1, 9.9), 62.8% reported some/a little (95% CI=60.5, 65.1), and 28.7% were not affected (95% CI=26.7, 30.6). Being affected a lot (β= -0.24, p=0.002) and some/a little (β= -0.18, p<0.001) by extreme weather was negatively associated with health status when compared with not being affected, adjusting for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Experiencing extreme weather was negatively associated with health status among U.S. adults. Efforts to improve preparedness and adaptation to extreme weather are needed to protect the health of U.S. adults before, during, and after extreme weather events or natural disasters.