[Daily circadian variations of deaths in a general hospital]

Rev Bras Enferm. 1997 Jul-Sep;50(3):339-44. doi: 10.1590/s0034-71671997000300004.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

This work aims at determining the incidence of circadian daily variations of natural death at a general hospital.

Methods: We have analyzed time of death in 502 individuals with natural death. Statistical analyses have been applied to determine the difference significance between proportions and averages. As a result, we have found out that the occurrence of natural death was similar in different periods of the day. However, values indicate an excess of lethality at 6 a.m. and from noon to 6 p.m. We have concluded that the observed results suggested that the natural death does not have a circadian pattern, despite the vespertine peak.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Circadian Rhythm*
  • Hospital Mortality*
  • Hospitals, General
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Time Factors