DAK Heat Report 2026: One in Three in Germany Complain of Heat-Related Symptoms

The majority of respondents see the greatest impact among those who perform heavy physical work, such as in the trades, construction, and manufacturing (89 percent). The impact is also considered very high in nursing care (86 percent). Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed see schools and kindergartens as severely restricted by heat.

Occupational Groups with Particular Exposure

Those particularly affected are ... people in physically demanding jobs, according to the report. The DAK Heat Report was first compiled in 2022 and is considered one of the largest recurring surveys on the health effects of heat in Germany.

Alongside physical symptoms, mental health consequences are increasingly coming into focus. A cross-country meta-analysis published in the journal Nature Health shows that people in Brazil, Canada, Chile, and New Zealand were more frequently hospitalized for mental and behavioral disorders following a heatwave.

Mental Health Consequences of Heatwaves

Scientist Hannah Wallis of the University Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy in Magdeburg is also leading a study in which people report four times a day via smartphone how they are feeling. "Ab 25 Grad berichten die Menschen etwas häufiger über depressive und ängstliche Symptome sowie körperliche Symptome wie Schwindel und Kopfschmerzen - je wärmer es ist, desto mehr", says the junior professor.

Wallis emphasizes that such data has not previously been reliably available for Germany. "Wir haben aber Praxiswissen, dass man in Zeiten von Hitzewellen auf psychiatrischen Stationen sehr aufmerksam ist." It can therefore be assumed that heat represents an additional burden affecting both body and mind. However, little is yet known about why this is the case. Research on this is still in its infancy.

Assessment of Heat Protection Measures

Concern about heat is widespread among the population. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said they were very or fairly worried about heat. Three quarters consider current heat protection measures insufficient. That is alarming, according to the CEO of DAK-Gesundheit, Andreas Storm.

The health insurer is therefore calling for a consistent expansion of heat protection plans, particularly for outdoor workers, those in nursing care, and schools. Heat-adapted working hours and more shade in public spaces are also cited as necessary measures.

Overall, the report paints a picture of a growing health burden caused by rising temperatures. DAK-Gesundheit therefore sees an urgent need for action by policymakers and employers to better protect the population from the consequences of extreme heat.