Is the problem of excessive winter deaths unique to the UK?

Is the problem of excessive winter deaths unique to the UK? Several commentators have reported on how improvements in life expectancy in the UK have stalled since 2010, with the most recent analysis showing that long-term mortality improvement has stalled in males and females, and at younger and older ages. Views about the causes of this disturbing trend vary widely. We have previously commented on issues that need to be considered in this debate, including whether or not these trends are unique to the UK. Given that some of this slowing has been caused by higher than the normal excess seen in winter deaths, and that data for the recent 2017–18 winter is now available, it is timely to see whether it brings more of the same. The King's Fund