Warm clothing and housing prevent excess winter mortality

Warm clothing and housing prevent excess winter mortality

Cold weather increases death rates from heart disease, stroke, and all causes in western Europe. Donaldson et al studied mortalityin Yakutsk in east Siberia, where temperatures average $-$ 26.6°Cfrom October to March (p 978). Overall daily death rates did notrise even at temperatures of $-$ 48.2°C. An increase in deaths fromrespiratory disease below $-$ 20°C was balanced by a fall in deathsfrom injury at this temperature. The stable death rate is attributedto very warm outdoor clothing and housing as well as a reductionin outdoor trips at temperatures below $-$ 20°C. The authors suggestthat most of the excess winter mortality in western Europe ispreventable by personal coldprotection.

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Cold related mortalities and protection against cold in Yakutsk, eastern Siberia: observation and interview study: G C Donaldson, S P Ermakov, Y M Komarov, C P McDonald, and W R Keatinge
BMJ 1998 317: 978-982. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]