• W S Aronow and C Ahn.
• Hebrew Hospital Home, Bronx, NY 10475, USA.
• J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2000 Nov 1; 1 (6): 258-60.

ObjectiveTo investigate if there is seasonal variation in cardiac deaths in older persons living in a nursing home in New York City.DesignIn a prospective study, the major clinical cause of death of all persons aged 60 years and older residing in a nursing home in New York City during a 15-year period was investigated. The author carefully reviewed the major cause of death with the physicians taking care of all persons who died in the nursing home or after transfer to a general hospital. We investigated whether there was seasonal variation in deaths from either fatal myocardial infarction, primary cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death, or refractory congestive heart failure.SettingA large nursing home in which 1265 older persons died of fatal myocardial infarction, primary cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death, or refractory congestive heart failure during a 15-year period.PatientsThe 1265 persons who died from cardiac causes included 410 men and 855 women, mean age 83 +/- 8 years at the time of death.Measurements And Main ResultsDuring a 15-year period, 1265 older persons died of fatal myocardial infarction, primary cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death, or refractory congestive heart failure. Cardiac deaths occurred from December through March in 497 of 1265 persons (39%), from April through July in 378 of 1265 persons (30%), and from August through November in 390 of 1265 persons (31%). The frequency of cardiac deaths was significantly greater between December and March (P < 0.001). The incidence of cardiac deaths between December and March was 1.29 times greater than the average of the incidence of cardiac deaths during the two other 4-month periods.ConclusionThe frequency of cardiac deaths in older persons living in a nursing home in New York City significantly increased 1.29 times during the period December through March compared with the average of the two other 4-month periods (P < 0.001).

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