Relationship between climatic factors and emergency department visits for respiratory diseases

Abstract

Background: the correlation between weather and daily emergency department (ED) visits could represent an excellent model to better understand the impact of climate on morbidity

Aim: To determine the relationship between climatic factors and ED visits for respiratory diseases.

Methods: a retrospective study was performed at a teaching hub hospital for 2 years (January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020). Adults presenting to the ED for respiratory disease (pneumonia, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation) were included. Data on mean barometric pressure, temperature, and rain were collected daily from a weather station located one kilometre from the hospital. The relationship of daily (intraday) or between-day (interday) changes in climatic factors and respiratory ED visits was evaluated using time series analysis.

Results: In the studied period, there were 151787 total ED visits; the negative interday difference in barometric pressure (p<0.001), intraday lower values of barometric pressure (p=0.006) and intraday lower temperature (p<0.001) were associated with a decrease in daily ED accesses; we observed fewer ED accesses during rainy or snowy days (p<0.001). There were 1947 ED visits for respiratory diseases. Lower intraday mean temperature and negative interday variations in barometric pressure were associated with more ED admissions for respiratory diseases (both p=0.03). No association was found with changes in rainfall amount.

Conclusions: a correlation between weather factors and ED visits exists, particularly with respiratory diseases;fully understanding the interaction between climate and morbidity may represent a strategy for coping with climate change challeges