The seasonality of mortality in Alaska

Abstract

The seasonal variation in mortality in the more northern latitudes has generally been neglected by both epidemiologists and medical geographers. Among Alaskans, for whom mortality data are available, different racial groups (white versus non-white) are seen to have different seasonal mortality patterns. White patterns generally resemble those seen in temperate climates. For nonwhites April and October are particularly prominent months both for total mortality and for selected causes of death. This pattern may be attributable to a number of geographic or cultural factors which need to be evaluated further. This pattern may have implications for the planning of native health care in Alaska.