Association of Ramadan and Death Rates in a Metropolitan City in Turkey: a Review of Literature and a Seasonally Adjusted Study

Abstract

In this study, death rates for a metropolitan city were analyzed over a period of 33 years to investigate any potential relationship between the month of Ramadan and death rates. The study also aimed to obtain seasonally adjusted results using time series analysis. Ultimately, the total evaluation of the 33-year period revealed no significant variation in death rates between Ramadan and non-Ramadan periods. Separate analyses for each season with time series also yielded no significant findings for most parameters, with the exception that the number of female deaths during Ramadan in winter was significantly higher than expected. According to these results, the increase in the number of deaths observed among women during the winter Ramadan period requires further investigation to determine whether a causal relationship exists. The use of seasonally adjusted approaches and time series analyses in future Ramadan and health studies is crucial for the accuracy of the results.