Excess winter morbidity and mortality: do housing and socio-economic status have an effect?
OBJECTIVE
To review the published research evidence on the links between excess winter mortality (EWM) or excess winter hospitalization (EWH) and housing quality or socioeconomic status (SES).


METHODS
Systematic review.


METHODS
Linked data on EWM or EWH and potential associations with housing quality or SES.


RESULTS
No consistent relations between SES and EWM or EWH. The results for housing quality are also inconsistent, with some studies showing a weak protective effect of home heating.


CONCLUSIONS
Studies to date do not provide good evidence that housing quality or SES factors affect EWM and EWH. More research is needed, particularly studies using individual level housing and SES data. Controlled trials of interventions would be desirable.
Barnard
Lucy F Telfar
LF
He Kainga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, PO Box 7343, Wellington South, New Zealand. tellu527@student.otago.ac.nz
Baker
Michael G
MG
Hales
Simon
S
Howden-Chapman
Philippa L
PL
D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006361:Heating; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009026:Mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors