France’s home-visiting medical service SOS-Médecins reported an 85% increase in deaths among people aged 75 and older during the heatwave week of 22–28 June, compared with the previous week, according to its latest weekly bulletin.
The service recorded 513 deaths in this age group during the heatwave week—up from 278 the week before.
Overall interventions by SOS-Médecins for patients over 75 rose by 14%, primarily for fever, general malaise, and anxiety—reaching levels higher than in previous years.
Across all age groups, visits related to heatstroke surged by 480%, and those linked to dehydration rose by 316%. Meanwhile, emergency department visits climbed 11% and hospital admissions increased 19% during 22–28 June, compared with the prior week.