ABSTRACT
In Britain, close to 40,000 more deaths occur between December and March than expected from the death rates in other months of the year [Curwen, 1990]. Although deaths from many causes show a winter excess, the principal increase is in cardiovascular and respiratory mortality [Curwen, 1990; West, 1989; Enquselassie et al., 1993; Knox, 1981; Fleming et al., 1993]. A similar pattern is seen in other European countries [Crombie et al., 1995; Saez et al., 1995; Kunst et al., 1993] but, at around 20%, the magnitude of the winter excess in Britain is comparatively large [Curwen, 1990; McKee, 1989].
