Association between provincial sunshine duration and mortality rates in China: Panel data study()

BACKGROUND: mortality rates are usually influenced by the variations of environmental factors. However, there are few studies on the impact of sunlight duration induced mortality. In this study, we examine provincial level associations between the sunshine duration and crude mortality rates. METHODS: we use China mortality data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China combined with China census data and data from the China Meteorological Data Service Centre. Annual mortality rates for 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China from 2005 to 19. Data are analyzed at the provincial level by using panel regression methods. The main outcome measures are the mortality rates associated with average daily sunshine duration. Then we perform a series of sentimental analyses. RESULTS: the average daily sunshine duration ratio cubed is positively associated with provincial level mortality rates (β = 11.509, 95% confidence interval 1.869 to 21.148). According to this estimate, increasing 2.895 h of additional daily sunshine is associated with an estimated 1.15% increase in the crude mortality rates. A series of sensitivity analyses show a consistent pattern of associations between average daily sunshine duration ratio cubed and mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: more sunshine duration is associated with increased mortality rates. While the associations documented cannot be assumed to be causal, they suggest a potential association between increased sunshine duration and increased mortality rates.