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Cold--an underrated risk factor for health.

James B Mercer1

  • 1Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway. james.mercer@fagmed.uit.no <james.mercer@fagmed.uit.no>

Environmental Research
|April 23, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Excess winter mortality, particularly from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), peaks in colder months. The exact mechanisms linking cold exposure to increased CVD deaths, even in warmer climates, require further investigation.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause 20% of global deaths and 50% in developed nations.
  • Excess winter mortality, a rise in deaths during colder months, is a documented phenomenon.
  • CVD accounts for a significant portion of excess winter deaths, with respiratory diseases also contributing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phenomenon of excess winter mortality, specifically its link to cardiovascular diseases.
  • To explore the paradoxical increase in CVD mortality with falling temperatures, even in regions with mild winters.
  • To elucidate the unclear mechanisms connecting cold ambient conditions to increased mortality risk.

Main Methods:

  • The study reviews epidemiological evidence linking cold climates to increased mortality rates.

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  • It considers both outdoor and indoor climatic conditions as potential factors.
  • It examines contributing factors such as health status, thermoregulation, toxicology, and socioeconomic status.

    • Main Results:

    • Seasonal variations in death rates are observed, with peaks during winter months.
    • CVD mortality shows a disproportionate increase with temperature drops, notably in areas with warmer winters.
    • Indirect evidence suggests cold exposure, potentially indoor, is linked to excess winter deaths.

    Conclusions:

    • Cold exposure is strongly implicated in excess winter mortality, particularly for cardiovascular diseases.
    • The precise mechanisms remain unclear but may involve indoor environmental factors and individual health determinants.
    • Further research is needed to understand how mild cold exposure increases mortality risk.