Myocardial infarct death and temperature in Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

Daily myocardial infarct deaths for Auckland (36 degrees 51'S, 20 m above sea-level) show an increase in mortality rate with decreasing temperatures over the entire thermal range. Parallel studies in Brisbane and Montreal predicted a minimum death temperature between 21 and 24 degrees C, but no such point was apparent. Lack of temperatures above 21 degrees C, together with the small overall thermal range, is thought responsible.