Abstract |
Estimates of excess human mortality during episodes of extreme temperature in the United States are complicated by serious limitations in available health data. A procedure is developed to avoid the present limitations by generation of a statistical standard of daily expected mortality for specific populations utilizing an available 10-year computer data base. Excess mortality would be the number of observed deaths greater than the standard, coincident with days of extreme heat or cold, with regard to cause classification. Mortality standards are generated and tested for all populations affected by heat waves and cold waves in the periods 1962-1966, 1973-1977. |