Skip to main content
The Ulster Medical Journal logoLink to The Ulster Medical Journal
. 1990 Apr;59(1):17–22.

Deaths in winter in Northern Ireland: the role of low temperature.

C M McKee 1
PMCID: PMC2448261  PMID: 2349744

Abstract

Many European countries experience a seasonal excess in deaths each winter compared to summer. The magnitude of the excess is greater in the United Kingdom than in many other European countries. Examination of the data for Northern Ireland indicates that myocardial infarction, respiratory disease and stroke exhibit the greatest increases during winter. Excess deaths from these conditions are closely associated with low environmental temperature.

Full text

PDF
18

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Anderson T. W., Le Riche W. H. Cold weather and myocardial infarction. Lancet. 1970 Feb 7;1(7641):291–296. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)90651-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ayres J. G. Seasonal pattern of acute bronchitis in general practice in the United Kingdom 1976-83. Thorax. 1986 Feb;41(2):106–110. doi: 10.1136/thx.41.2.106. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bainton D., Moore F., Sweetnam P. Temperature and deaths from ischaemic heart disease. Br J Prev Soc Med. 1977 Mar;31(1):49–53. doi: 10.1136/jech.31.1.49. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Brennan P. J., Greenberg G., Miall W. E., Thompson S. G. Seasonal variation in arterial blood pressure. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Oct 2;285(6346):919–923. doi: 10.1136/bmj.285.6346.919. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bull G. M., Morton J. Environment, temperature and death rates. Age Ageing. 1978 Nov;7(4):210–224. doi: 10.1093/ageing/7.4.210. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bull G. M. The weather and deaths from pneumonia. Lancet. 1980 Jun 28;1(8183):1405–1408. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(80)92666-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Burgess K. R., Whitelaw W. A. Reducing ventilatory response to carbon dioxide by breathing cold air. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984 May;129(5):687–690. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1984.129.5.687. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Collins K. J., Easton J. C., Belfield-Smith H., Exton-Smith A. N., Pluck R. A. Effects of age on body temperature and blood pressure in cold environments. Clin Sci (Lond) 1985 Oct;69(4):465–470. doi: 10.1042/cs0690465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Collins K. J. Low indoor temperatures and morbidity in the elderly. Age Ageing. 1986 Jul;15(4):212–220. doi: 10.1093/ageing/15.4.212. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Davey M. L., Reid D. Relationship of air temperature to outbreaks of influenza. Br J Prev Soc Med. 1972 Feb;26(1):28–32. doi: 10.1136/jech.26.1.28. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. EDWARDS J. H. The recognition and estimation of cyclic trends. Ann Hum Genet. 1961 May;25:83–87. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.1961.tb01501.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. HILL A. B. THE ENVIRONMENT AND DISEASE: ASSOCIATION OR CAUSATION? Proc R Soc Med. 1965 May;58:295–300. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hakansson C. H., Toremalm N. G. Studies on the physiology of the trachea. I. Ciliary activity indirectly recorded by a new "light beam reflex" method. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1965 Dec;74(4):954–969. doi: 10.1177/000348946507400404. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Keatinge W. R., Coleshaw S. R., Cotter F., Mattock M., Murphy M., Chelliah R. Increases in platelet and red cell counts, blood viscosity, and arterial pressure during mild surface cooling: factors in mortality from coronary and cerebral thrombosis in winter. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984 Nov 24;289(6456):1405–1408. doi: 10.1136/bmj.289.6456.1405. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Macfarlane A. Daily mortality and environment in English conurbations. Air pollution, low temperature, and influenza in Greater London. Br J Prev Soc Med. 1977 Mar;31(1):54–61. doi: 10.1136/jech.31.1.54. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. McKee C. M. Deaths in winter: can Britain learn from Europe? Eur J Epidemiol. 1989 Jun;5(2):178–182. doi: 10.1007/BF00156826. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Rogot E., Blackwelder W. C. Associations of cardiovascular mortality with weather in Memphis, Tennessee. Public Health Rep. 1970 Jan;85(1):25–39. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Rose G. Cold weather and ischaemic heart disease. Br J Prev Soc Med. 1966 Apr;20(2):97–100. doi: 10.1136/jech.20.2.97. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Tillett H. E., Smith J. W., Gooch C. D. Excess deaths attributable to influenza in England and Wales: age at death and certified cause. Int J Epidemiol. 1983 Sep;12(3):344–352. doi: 10.1093/ije/12.3.344. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. West R. R., Lowe C. R. Mortality from ischaemic heart disease--inter-town variation and its association with climate in England and Wales. Int J Epidemiol. 1976 Jun;5(2):195–201. doi: 10.1093/ije/5.2.195. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Ulster Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of Ulster Medical Society

RESOURCES