Back to the program

The Impact of Climate Change on Family Medicine Practices: A Systematic Review

Duygu AYHAN BASER and Hande KONSUK UNLU

Climate change poses growing challenges to health systems worldwide, with significant implications for primary care. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, air pollution, and ecological changes are altering disease patterns and increasing the burden of climate-sensitive conditions. As the first point of contact in healthcare, family medicine plays a critical role in responding to these emerging health threats.This systematic review aims to synthesize existing evidence on the impact of climate change on family medicine practices, focusing on clinical workload, service delivery, preventive care, and professional roles.A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science following PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies examining the effects of climate change on family medicine or primary care settings were included. Data were synthesized thematically to identify key challenges, practice implications, and response strategies.The reviewed studies indicate that climate change is associated with increased presentations of respiratory, cardiovascular, infectious, and mental health conditions in primary care. Family physicians face growing workloads, service disruptions during extreme weather events, and expanding responsibilities in risk communication and prevention. However, evidence on structured adaptation strategies and climate-informed practice models remains limited.This review demonstrates that climate change is increasingly shaping the scope and workload of family medicine through climate-sensitive diseases, service disruptions, and preventive care demands. However, evidence on practical implementation remains limited. Integrating climate-informed education, preparedness frameworks, and policy support into primary care is essential to strengthen the resilience of family medicine practices.Climate change is increasingly influencing the scope and demands of family medicine practice. Strengthening climate-informed education, preparedness, and policy integration within primary care is essential to enhance the resilience and sustainability of family medicine in the face of climate-related health risks.