In Portugal, it is estimated that between 1.8 and 3 million people live in energy poverty, with between 609,000 and 660,000 in severe conditions. Exposure to extreme temperatures within households can exacerbate existing health problems and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, which affects approximately 36% of the Portuguese population aged 25 to 74. This issue is further intensified by climate change, which increases the frequency of extreme weather events. Despite concerns expressed in European policies, few population-based studies have assessed the association between energy poverty and health using objective measures. This study aims to estimate the association between the Energy Poverty Vulnerability Index (EPVI), developed at the parish level (#3092), and blood pressure levels in the adult Portuguese population. It is an epidemiological, observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study, based on data from the 2015 National Health Examination Survey (INSEF), covering 4,911 individuals aged 25 to 74. The EPVI was categorized into tertiles (low, medium, and high), and associations were analyzed using linear regression, adjusted for sociodemographic and economic factors. The results indicate that living in areas with high vulnerability to energy poverty is significantly associated with increased blood pressure. In the cooling context, an increase of 2.28% in Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and 2.08% in Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) was observed, while in the heating context, there was a significant increase in SBP but no relevant change in DBP. These findings reinforce energy poverty as a significant risk factor for health, highlighting the need for effective public policies to mitigate its impacts. In the context of climate change and an aging Portuguese population, ensuring adequate housing conditions may be a crucial strategy for reducing social inequalities, promoting health and well-being, and alleviating pressure on public health systems.

Supervision: João Pedro Gouveia e Mafalda Sousa-Uva.