About this guideline

What evidence is the guideline based on?

The evidence that the PHAC considered included:

  • Evidence reviews:

    • Review 1: 'Factors determining vulnerability to winter‑ and cold weather‑related mortality/morbidity' was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The principal authors were: James Milner, Zaid Chalabi and Paul Wilkinson.

    • Review 2: 'Interventions and economic studies' was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The principal authors were: James Milner, Zaid Chalabi and Paul Wilkinson.

    • Review 3: 'Delivery and implementation of approaches for the prevention of excess winter deaths and morbidity' was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The principal authors were: James Milner, Zaid Chalabi and Paul Wilkinson.

  • Economic modelling:

    • 'Excess winter deaths: economic modelling report' was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The principal authors were: James Milner, Ian Hamilton and Zaid Chalabi.

  • Expert papers:

    • Expert paper 1: 'Alzheimer's and dementia in relation to cold homes and excess winter mortality and morbidity'. The principal author was Christine Liddell, University of Ulster.

    • Expert paper 2: 'Children's health and wellbeing and cold homes' by Christine Liddell, University of Ulster.

    • Expert paper 3: 'Benefit changes, fuel poverty and disability' by Carolyn Snell, University of York.

    • Expert paper 4: 'Working in local partnerships to address the impact of cold homes' by Martin Chadwick, Beat the Cold.

    • Expert paper 5: 'OFGEM's vulnerable consumer strategy and related initiatives' by Phillip Cullum, OFGEM.

    • Expert paper 6: 'The role of CCGs in addressing the impact of cold homes' by Tim Anfilogoff, Hertfordshire Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group and Neil Walker, Watford Borough Council.

    • Expert paper 7: 'Policy update and the ECO' by Gareth Baynham‑Hughes and Fern Leathers, DECC.

    • Expert paper 8: 'The role of energy companies in addressing the impact of cold homes' by Maria Wardrobe, National Energy Action.

Note: the views expressed in the expert papers above are the views of the authors and not those of NICE.

In some cases, the evidence was insufficient and the PHAC has made recommendations for future research. See also the recommendations for research and gaps in the evidence.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)