MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — The Maricopa County Department of Public Health confirmed there were 469 heat-associated deaths in 2023, the largest amount of heat-associated deaths in recorded history.
The number of heat deaths in 2023 is 10% more than in 2022 – 425 deaths were reported in 2022. From 2021 to 2022, it was a 25% increase.
The department of public health releases heat-associated data weekly. In the week of Oct. 15-21, 44 more cases were confirmed since last week’s heat report, while 153 deaths are still under investigation. The deaths classified as “under investigation” are cases that the Maricopa County Office of Medical Examiner suspects are heat associated deaths.
There are two ways to classify heat-associated deaths: heat caused and heat related. Heat caused deaths are cases that mention heat or heat exposure in part one of the death certificate cause of death – in other words, heat is the direct cause of death.
For heat related deaths, heat exposure is mentioned in part two of a person’s death certificate and is not mentioned anywhere in part one – meaning heat may be related, but not the direct cause of death.
There are 262 heat caused deaths confirmed in 2023 and 207 heat-related deaths confirmed in 2023.
The numbers reported by the department of public health can change week to week. Cases can leave the “under investigation” classification and become confirmed or unconfirmed, or additional data received could alter numbers.
For example, as of Oct. 14, there were 359 confirmed heat-associated deaths in 2022 and 91 cases under investigation. Now, the number of confirmed deaths in 2022 is 372, with 74 cases under investigation.
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