Seasonality of disease in Kuwait

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 337; no. 8754; pp. 1393 - 1397
• Main Authors: Douglas, A.S, Rawles, J.M, Al-Sayer, H, Allan, T.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 08.06.1991; Lancet; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality; Epidemiology; Fatalities; Female; Fourier Analysis; General aspects; Humans; Infant; Infant Mortality; Kuwait - epidemiology; Low temperature; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - mortality; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Diseases - mortality; Scotland - epidemiology; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Temperature; Tropical medicine; Weather; Winter; Kuwait; Scotland; Human; Disease; Respiratory disease; Europe; Mortality; Great britain; United Kingdom; Cardiovascular disease; Scotland; Malignant tumor; Epidemiology; Morbidity; Asia; Seasonal variation; Kuwait; Comparative study; Respiratory Insufficiency; Biology; Infections; Research Methodology; Neonatal Diseases And Abnormalities; Time Factors; Heart Diseases; Western Asia; Population; Physiology; Cardiovascular Effects; Demographic Factors; Pulmonary Effects; Arab Countries; Northern Europe; Seasonal Variation; Statistical Studies; Diseases; Studies; Mortality > changes; Developed Countries; Developing Countries; Population Dynamics
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(91)93069-L

To compare the seasonal variation in total mortality and deaths from cardiovascular, respiratory, and malignant disease, data were collected from North-East Scotland (Grampian region) and Kuwait. Seasonal differences were similar, in both timing and degree, for total mortality and deaths from circulatory disease, but were greater in Kuwait for respiratory disease. Peak mortality was during winter in both areas: in Grampian, when the climate is most uncomfortable, and in Kuwait, when the climate is at its most comfortable. Socioeconomic changes in Kuwait have been accompanied by a rapid fall in the degree of seasonality (deseasonality) for both total and infant mortality. These findings suggest that mortality peaks in winter, not because of a seasonally low temperature, but because of a seasonal fall in mean temperature irrespective of the annual mean temperature.