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Weather Trumps Festivity? More Cardiovascular Disease Events Occur in Winter than in December Holidays in Queensland, Australia

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  • Clifford Afoakwah

    (Centre for Applied Health Economics, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
    Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia)

  • Son Nghiem

    (Centre for Applied Health Economics, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
    Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia)

  • Paul Scuffham

    (Centre for Applied Health Economics, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
    Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia)

  • Simon Stewart

    (Centre for Cardiopulmonary Health, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia)

  • Joshua Byrnes

    (Centre for Applied Health Economics, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
    Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia)

Abstract

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of hospitalisations and deaths in Australia. This study estimates the excess CVD hospitalisations and deaths across seasons and during the December holidays in Queensland, Australia. Methods: The study uses retrospective, longitudinal, population-based cohort data from Queensland, Australia from January 2010 to December 2015. The outcomes were hospitalisations and deaths categorised as CVD-related. CVD events were grouped according to when they occurred in the calendar year. Excess hospitalisations and deaths were estimated using the multivariate ordinary least squares method after adjusting for confounding effects. Results: More CVD hospitalisations and deaths occurred in winter than in summer, with 7811 (CI: 1353, 14,270; p < 0.01) excess hospitalisations and 774 (CI: 35, 1513; p < 0.01) deaths compared to summer. During the coldest month (July), there was an excess of 42 hospitalisations and 7 deaths per 1000 patients. Fewer CVD hospitalisations (−20 (CI: −29, −9; p < 0.01)) occurred during the December holidays than any other period during the calendar year. Non-CVD events were mostly not statistically significant different between periods. Conclusion: Most CVD events in Queensland occurred in winter rather than during the December holidays. Potentially cost-effective initiatives should be explored such as encouraging patients with CVD conditions to wear warmer clothes during cold temperatures and/or insulating the homes of CVD patients who cannot otherwise afford to.

Suggested Citation

  • Clifford Afoakwah & Son Nghiem & Paul Scuffham & Simon Stewart & Joshua Byrnes, 2021. "Weather Trumps Festivity? More Cardiovascular Disease Events Occur in Winter than in December Holidays in Queensland, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10158-:d:644513
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Clifford Afoakwah & Son Nghiem & Paul Scuffham & Quan Huynh & Tom Marwick & Joshua Byrnes, 2020. "Impacts of air pollution on health: evidence from longitudinal cohort data of patients with cardiovascular diseases," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 21(7), pages 1025-1038, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dalia Martinaitiene & Nijole Raskauskiene, 2022. "Effects of Changes in Seasonal Weather Patterns on the Subjective Well-Being in Patients with CAD Enrolled in Cardiac Rehabilitation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, April.

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