A seasonal pattern of winter peaks in GP episodes among elderly patients is evident for acute upper and lower respiratory diseases included in the Weekly Returns Service. Aggregated respiratory disease (ARD) represents the sum of new episodes of all respiratory conditions surveyed: acute bronchitis, common cold, influenza, influenza-like illness, acute tonsillitis, acute sinusitis, laryngitis/tracheitis, pneumonia/pneumonitis and pleurisy). It is striking how closely the seasonal variations in acute bronchitis and ARD among the elderly match those of deaths, regardless of cause. It is likely that acute respiratory infections are a common immediate cause of death for persons with non-respiratory disease.