Skip to main content
Log in

Seasonality of mortality in human populations of Chile as related to a climatic gradient

  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mortality of human populations in Chile was studied from a latitudinal and seasonal perspective, and related to climate and main diseases. Approximately 3 mill. 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 40°S in winter and at 45°S in winter and spring. Seasonality along the years of analysis shows a different behaviour 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 one and above 65 years are mostly affected.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • BRAZOL, D. (1951): La temperatura biológica óptima. Meteoros 1: 99–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • CASTRI, F. DI and HAJEK, E. R. (1976): Bioclimatología de Chile. Edit. Universidad Católica. Santiago.

    Google Scholar 

  • CECH, I., YOUNGES, K., SMOLENSKY, M. H. and SARGENT, F. (1979a): Day to day and seasonal fluctuations of urban mortality in Houston, Texas. Int. J. Biometeor., 23: 77–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • CECH, I., SMOLENSKY, M. H., LANE, R., NAGATA, H., TAKAHASHI, Y. and MORIMOTO, T. (1979b): Day to day and seasonal fluctuations of urban mortality in Kyoto, Japan. Int. J. Biometeor., 23: 89–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOLDSMITH, J. R. and PERKINS, N. M. (1963): Seasonal Variations in Mortality. In S. Tromp and W. H. Weihe, (ed.) Biometeorology. Vol. 2 Pt. 1: 97.

  • HAJEK, E. R. and DI CASTRI, F. (1975): Bioclimatografía de Chile. Dir. Inv. Universidad Católica. Santiago.

    Google Scholar 

  • HAJEK, E. R. (1979): Die bioklimatischen Verhältnisse in Chile auf Grund der Luftenthalpie. Münch. Univ. Schriften Wiss. Mitt. 35: 149–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE ESTADISTICAS. Chile. (1945–1974): Anuarios Estadísticos de Chile años 1945 a 1974: Mortalidad. INE. Santiago.

    Google Scholar 

  • MOMIYAMA, M. S. and KATAYAMA, K. (1972): Deseasonalization of mortality in the world. Int. J. Biometeor., 16: 329–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • MOMIYAMA, M. S., KATAYAMA, K. and SATO, T. (1978): A comparison of seasonal mortality between Japan and the USA. Abstracts 15th Ann. Meeting Jap. Soc. Biometeorology. In: J. Biometeor., 22: 344.

    Google Scholar 

  • NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS (1967): Eighth revision International Classification of Diseases. Publ. Health Service Pub. no. 1963. Public Health Service. Washington. D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • SNEDECOR, G. and COCHRAN, W. (1969): Statistical Methods. Iowa. State University Press, Iowa.

    Google Scholar 

  • STATES, S. J. (1977): Weather and deaths in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: a comparison with Birmingham, Alabama. Int. J. Biometeor., 21: 7–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • TROMP, S. W. (1963): Medical Biometeorology. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • TROMP, S. W. and SARGENT, II F. (1964): A survey of Human Biometeorology. World Meteorological Organization. Tech. Note no. 65. Geneva.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hajek, E.R., Gutiérrez, J.R. & Espinosa, G.A. Seasonality of mortality in human populations of Chile as related to a climatic gradient. Int J Biometeorol 28, 29–38 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02193512

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02193512

Keywords

Navigation