1,200 elderly people died from ‘cold related illnesses’ last winter

More than 2,500 people died in England last winter due to cold weather, with more than half occurring at home and in care homes, following cuts to winter fuel allowances. 

Analysis suggested that vulnerability to the cold has increased over the last five years, leading experts to point the finger at fuel poverty, surmounting pressure on health services and a drop in flu and Covid vaccination rates. 

Those aged 85 and over faced the highest risk of death, with mortality rates rapidly increasing with age.

During the recorded period, there were 1,218 preventable deaths in this age category. 

The risk associated with cold snaps was greatest for people in care homes and those who died at home, accounting for more than 1,500 deaths in total – with limited ability to heat homes as temperatures dropped below 5C.

In July 2024, the Labour Government announced that 10million pensioners in England and Wales would lose their winter fuel payments, worth up to £300, for the first time. 

The report, published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) concluded: ‘These findings indicate the cold-related health risks are concentrated in older populations and reinforce the importance of targeted cold-weather advice and support.’ 

The data presents deaths associated with cold weather in England during winter 2024/25. 

An estimated 2,544 people died across three cold snaps where temperatures fell below 2C for two or more consecutive days – one in November and two in January. 

The data reflects the number of people who died during or after a cold weather episode, over and above the number of expected deaths without cold weather. 

Findings from the report show the most severe episode, which lasted for six days in January, accounted for 1,630 deaths, while shorter cold snaps were associated with 421 and 493 respectively. 

Of these, 1,448 deaths were directly linked to cold temperatures, with the remaining deaths overlapping with elevated flu levels.  

Strong associations were seen with circulatory diseases, dementia, flu, pneumonia and chronic respiratory conditions. 

Circulatory diseases – the name for a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels – accounted for highest number of cold weather related and therefore preventable deaths, with 834 deaths linked to conditions such as heart disease.

In this time, 394 dementia patients died as a result of cold weather.  

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: ‘Cold weather remains a serious and preventable risk to public health. 

‘This report provides important new evidence on how cold affects mortality, helping to ensure that Cold Weather Alerts and preparedness measures are grounded in evidence of health impact. 

‘The findings suggest that even short periods of cold can lead to significant increases in mortality, often days or weeks after the temperature drops. 

‘Understanding who is most affected and how these risks are changing helps us better target winter preparedness, support vulnerable groups, and ensure that cold weather alerts reflect real health impacts, not just weather conditions.’

Interestingly, the largest burden was seen in the South East, whilst the smallest was observed in the North East, despite the region typically experiencing colder temperatures than other parts of England.

Whilst experts aren’t entirely sure why this was the case, they say it could be due to behavioural and social adaptations to colder conditions as well as housing quality and heating practices. 

In July 2024, the Labour government announced that 10million pensioners in England and Wales would lose their winter fuel payments, worth up to £300, for the first time.

The annual payments were introduced in 1997 to help everyone above state pension age with their winter heating bills.  

But in 2024, the payments were restricted to those on benefits and pension credit, leaving millions of elderly people vulnerable to the cold, and as a result, preventable illness and even death. 

 Keir Starmer has since announced plans to ease cuts to winter fuel payments, following mounting political pressure earlier last year. 

Dennis Reed, spokesperson from Silver Voices told the Daily Mail: ‘The report also states that older people are becoming more vulnerable to cold related deaths. 

‘This must be partly due to the high cost of energy since the pandemic and the difficulty millions of older people have in keeping their homes at a healthy temperature. 

‘Some of these unnecessary deaths lie directly at the doors of Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall for their cruel decision to scrap the winter fuel payment when it was most needed.’

Jonathan Blades, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Asthma + Lung UK, added: ‘The link between lung health and winter pressures is all too clear, yet thousands of people with lung conditions are not receiving the vital care they need.

‘Respiratory conditions are the leading cause of emergency admissions, with 1.1million people attending hospital with a breathing emergency last winter.

‘Respiratory care is on life support. Without a bold national strategy on lung health or a Modern Service Framework (MSF), respiratory admissions will continue to fuel the winter crisis – leading to thousands of preventable deaths each year.’