Cold weather threats to health: how does Europe prepare?

Abstract

The health effects of cold weather have been recognised in the medical literature. There is evidence that after the coldest temperatures occur, deaths from heart attacks and strokes peak two and five days later respectively, while respiratory deaths also peak twelve days after the coldest temperature. In England, cold weather is estimated to cause 25,000 excess winter deaths each year. In 2005e6, cardiovascular deaths accounted for 40% of these deaths. Respiratory deaths were the next biggest cause, accounting for approximately one third of excess winter deaths. Older people, very young children and people with pre-existing medical conditions are most at risk of the adverse health effects of cold weather. The problem of excess winter deaths is not just limited to England but has been observed in many different European countries. Healy identified, that on average, there is a 16% increase in deaths during the winter months, compared to non-winter months, across Europe. The highest average winter increases in mortality were found to occur in Portugal (28%), Ireland (21%) and Spain (21%). Intermediate average winter increases in mortality were found to occur in the United Kingdom and Greece (18% each), while the lowest