Table 1: Characteristics of study cohort, 1996-2010*
CharacteristicBoth
seasons n = 352 818
Cold season†
n = 188 415
Warm season‡
n = 164 403
Age, yr, mean (IQR)76 (68-86)76 (69-86)75 (68-86)
Male sex49.249.049.4
Admissions to hospital within 1 yr before death
Acute myocardial infarction8.88.98.7
Heart failure17.017.116.8
Stroke10.310.310.2
Diabetes16.216.016.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease11.711.811.6
Any respiratory illness32.632.932.3
History of chronic conditions
Hypertension63.563.563.6
Acute myocardial infarction10.710.810.6
Heart failure34.534.934.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease34.834.934.8
Diabetes28.928.729.1
Cause of death
Nonaccidental100.0100.0100.0
Any cardiovascular32.633.232.0
Coronary heart disease18.819.118.5
Acute myocardial infarction8.28.47.9
Heart failure, cardiac arrest and related4.84.84.7
Stroke7.27.56.9
Diabetes3.63.63.6
Any respiratory cause8.89.67.9
Time period
1996-200027.728.227.1
2001-200531.231.031.3
2006-201041.140.841.6
Region§
North3.93.74.2
West10.510.710.4
East9.69.69.5
Central east52.352.352.3
Central west23.723.723.6

Note: IQR = interquartile range.

*Values are percentages, unless otherwise specified.

†December to February.

‡June to August.

§Five census divisions were included in the north, 6 in the west, 3 in the east, 7 in the central east and 6 in the central west region.