SEASONALITY OF MORTALITY IN HUMAN-POPULATIONS OF CHILE AS RELATED TO A CLIMATIC GRADIENT
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1984
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Abstract
Mortality of human populations in Chile was studied from a latitudinal and seasonal perspective, and related to climate and main diseases. Approximately 3,000,000 deaths were analyzed. Seasonality considered along a latitudinal and climatic gradient is almost absent in the northern portion of the country; in the central part peaks are evident in summer, at latitudes of 40.degree. S in winter and at 45.degree. S in winter and spring. Seasonality along the years of analysis shows a different behavior for the different zones of the country and no unique pattern is evident. A clear relationship between the air enthalpy and seasonality of mortality is detected. Circulatory diseases appear as the most important causes of deaths, exception made of latitude 40 where respiratory diseases are the significant causes of deaths. Age groups below 1 and above 65 yr are mostly affected.