No 'Christmas holiday effect' in Australia for cardiovascular and stroke mortality.

Cardiovascular events and mortality have shown a higher incidence within the Christmas holiday period in previous studies and in the northern and southern hemisphere. Our study aimed to assess changes in cardiovascular and stroke mortality variation around the Christmas period in Australia. The study design is a population-based case-control study. Daily mortality data attributed to stroke and cardiovascular was compiled from Australia between 1989 and 2015, amounting to approximately 700,000 and 250,000 deaths, respectively. A locally weighted polynomial regression line was used to estimate expected mortality rates during that period and compared with actual results. There was a non-significant increase of 1.08% (P = 0.35) and 0.20% (P = 0.87) for coronary heart disease and stroke mortality, respectively, in the Christmas holiday period. There is no evidence of an increase in cardiovascular and stroke mortality in the Christmas holiday period in Australia. • There was no increased Christmas risk of cardiovascular (P =.35) or stroke mortality (P =.87). • Winter months had higher mortality. • International differences in Holiday effects may relate to temperature, culture or medical systems. • Understanding mortality spikes are critical to promote safety and health awareness campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]