Health statistics quarterly
-
This article reports research carried out to inform possible methods of describing seasonal mortality in relation to extremes of temperature. In particular, since different methods are currently used to assess excess winter mortality and heatwave related mortality, we aimed to find out whether a single method could be used to measure all seasonal mortality in relation to temperature. In order to do this the project investigated whether there are temperatures above or below which excess deaths occur, and explored whether it is possible to predict reliably how many deaths would occur at extreme temperatures. ⋯ There is a weak but significant relationship between temperature and mortality in both the summer and winter months. While in winter mortality does increase as it gets colder, winter mortality is variable and high mortality can occur on relatively mild days. Similarly, in the summer high temperatures are often associated with relatively increased mortality, but a single hot day does not always lead to excess deaths. Daily mortality cannot be predicted from temperature alone: the prevalence of influenza in winter and factors such as air pollution in summer should also be considered.
-
This paper quantifies the contribution of leading causes of death to mortality change between 1991 and 2005 for people aged 50 years and over in England. Between 1971 and 2005 the life expectancy of men aged 50 years increased by more than in the whole of the rest of the 20(th) century. The ageing population has not only had an important impact on health and social services, but was responsible for sparking the pensions crisis affecting both the public and commercial sector. ⋯ The trends of decreasing mortality rates from ischaemic heart disease and stroke have continued into the 21(st) century, however both causes continue to be the biggest killers in England. They are projected to remain so, and consequently, to contribute significantly to the burden of disease in the population.The steady increase in liver disease mortality identified highlights the importance of tackling alcohol misuse as a public health priority.
-
This article presents age-specific mortality rates of children for selected causes of accidents and assault using the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC). The study is an analysis of the social inequalities in fatal childhood accidents and assault at the start of the 21st century. It aims to identify the causes and age groups for which these inequalities are the widest. ⋯ Substantial social inequalities in childhood mortality from accidents and assault existed in 2001-03. Reducing the large inequalities between the most advantaged class and the most disadvantaged group in the non-occupied category, would make a substantial impact on childhood deaths from accidents and assaults. If the mortality rates in the latter group were the same as in the most advantaged managerial and professional class, deaths of infants of at least 28 days but less than one year, from assault would be reduced by 62 per cent. Deaths from fire, accidental suffocation and pedestrian accidents in the under fives would be reduced by 50 per cent, 25 per cent and 28 per cent respectively. Deaths in pedestrian and transport accidents for children aged 5-15 would be reduced by 25 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.