Project Title
Assessing the Effect of Cold Weather on Rural Cardiovascular Disease Deaths in Vermont
Date of Publication
2020
Faculty Mentor
Timothy Plante
Abstract
Objective: To study Vermont mortality and temperature data to determine if there is an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease related death on categorically cold streak days among rural residents.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using a cohort of Vermont CVD deaths between 2009-2017 subset with corresponding daily temperature data. CVD deaths that occurred on a categorical cold streak day were then identified and analyzed using a Poisson Regression to assess the relationship between ambient temperature changes, CVD mortality, and rurality.
Results: As compared to non-cold streak days, risk of CVD mortality was 4% higher on cold streak days (P (P<0.001). However, when controlling for cold streak days, rurality, and tobacco use, the excess risk of CVD deaths was 4.5% lower for each successive year of age.
Conclusion: Our findings highlight an increased risk of CVD death among rural residents on cold-streak days. However, further research is needed to understand why CVD death on cold-streak days was less likely with every year increase in age among our sample.
Document Type
Project
Recommended Citation
Sherbrook, Alex V.; Freeman, Madison M.; Aspril, Cody A.; Tomczak, Jennifer A.; Pareles, Emily C.; and Plante, Timothy B., "Assessing the Effect of Cold Weather on Rural Cardiovascular Disease Deaths in Vermont" (2020). Master of Public Health Culminating Projects. 13.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/mphcp/13