The influence of weather on human mortality in Hong Kong

This study is the first attempt to investigate mortality seasonality and we ather-mortality relationships in Hong Kong from 1980 to 1994. Monthly morta lity data from all causes of death, neoplasm, circulatory and respiratory d iseases were obtained from the Census and Statistics Department and the wea ther data were obtained from the Hong Kong Observatory. Regression analyses and ANOVA were employed. Significant winter peaks in sex specific and tota l deaths from all causes, circulatory and respiratory diseases were ascerta ined. Cancer mortality, however, was not seasonal. Mortality seasonality on ly existed in age groups 45-64 and greater than or equal to 65, For the imp act of weather on mortality, no significant relationship between weather va riables and cancer mortality was observed. A significant negative associati on between minimum temperature and a positive relationship between cloud an d deaths were found. This suggests that colder and cloudy conditions may he ighten mortality. Wind was discovered to have a negative association with m ortality. This finding revealed that the stressful effect of wind on mortal ity was negligible. There was no apparent sex difference. Deaths from the y ounger age groups (0-24 yr old) were not weather related. Weak weather conn ection with mortality for age group 25-44 was discovered, with Adj r(2) val ues ranging from 0.05 to 0.07. The elderly (age greater than or equal to 65 ) were more vulnerable to weather stress and strong weather-mortality relat ionship was uncovered, with Adj r(2) values from 0.36 to 0.66. These result s are important information for formulating public health policies. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.