Annual Variations in Deaths by Age, Deaths by Cause, Prices, and Weather in London 1670 to 1830

Abstract

The impact of annual variations in prices, temperature, and rainfall on annual fluctuations in age-specific and disease-specific mortality is examined for London from 1670 to 1830. The analysis reveals that deaths in London in the middle and older age groups tended to increase when grain prices were high. Increases in deaths among the elderly are associated with unusually cold winters and unusually warm summers. High grain prices tend to increase the incidence of epidemic diseases, while endemic diseases appear to increase with colder winters and warmer summers. The role of migration is discussed in the light of the results and the implications for long-term mortality decline are considered.