Socioeconomic and behavioural risk factors for adverse winter health and social outcomes in economically developed countries: a systematic review of quantitative observational studies

Abstract

This review identified socioeconomic, housing and behavioural factors associated with a range of cold weather-related adverse health or social outcomes. Only tentative conclusions can be drawn due to the limitations of existing research. More robust studies are needed to address the methodological issues identified and uncover causal associations. A review of qualitative and intervention studies would help to inform policies to reduce the adverse health and social impacts of cold weather.

Excess winter deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases are associated with both mild winter temperature and socio-economic inequalities in the U.S.

“…This paradox has also been previously observed in Europe for overall mortality, and it may relate to uneven proportions between countries of people who are unable to adequately protect themselves against cold due to low socio-economic status (SES), e.g. inadequate clothing, housing insulation and heating systems [4,5]. We hypothesized that the seasonal variability in CVD mortality is larger in low socio-economic U.S. states experiencing mild winters compared to high socio-economic states experiencing cold winters.…”

‘Cold and lonely’: emergency presentations of patients with hypothermia to a large Australian health network

“…Universal to both, however, was comorbid social and physiological vulnerability. 17 Relevant to our temperate climate is the finding that moderate rather than extreme cold exerted a greater mortality burden globally than heat. Inpatient mortality was largely driven by chronic disease, sepsis and advanced age with 71 versus 34% being 65 years or more.…”

Features of Seasonal Cardiovascular Mortality in Winter in Russian Regions With Different Climatic and Geographical Characteristics

“…Факт повышения смертности в зимний период под-твержден в одном из последних систематических об-зоров, опубликованных в 2013 г., однако при анали-зе возможных причин объясняющих это повышение вы-делены социально-экономические параметры, жи-лищные и поведенческие, и сделано заключение о не-обходимости дальнейших исследований в этой обла-сти [19].…”