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Effects of meteorological parameters on hospital admission for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases

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Abstract

Aim

Meteorological factors play a role in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. However, previous studies demonstrated inconsistent results regarding their associations. This paper aims to evaluate their relationships to facilitate anticipatory care for patients with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Subject and methods

A retrospective time-series study, controlling for air pollution, was adopted to examine the effects of various meteorological factors on emergency hospital admission for chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases from 2007 to 2010 in a Hong Kong hospital. Impact of weather was examined up to 3 weeks to account for the possible delayed effects of meteorological factors.

Results

Barometric pressure was positively associated with hospital admission in a linear fashion, while temperature demonstrated a linear negative association. Delayed effects of air pressure were noted up to lag weeks 2 and 3 for cardiovascular and respiratory admission respectively. Temperature also showed a progressive reduction in lag effects on respiratory and cardiovascular diseases admission up to lag week 3. Relative humidity, global solar radiation and wind speed demonstrated no significant associations with hospital admission.

Conclusion

Anticipatory care to prevent exacerbations of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, hence to reduce related admission, might be achieved by the provision of targeted advice triggered by forecasts of low temperature and high barometric pressure.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Wai–Kit Tung and Dr. Ching-Kong Loo, the Chiefs of Service of Accident and Emergency Department and Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital, respectively, for their support in this research.

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine & Primary Care, Kowloon West Cluster, Hospital Authority, 1/F OPD Block, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital, 118 Shatin Pass Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Ting Fong

  2. Department of Health, 18/F & 25/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong

    Edmond Ma

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  1. Ting Fong
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Correspondence to Ting Fong.

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Fong, T., Ma, E. Effects of meteorological parameters on hospital admission for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. J Public Health 21, 175–182 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-012-0539-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-012-0539-2

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