Short-term effects of atmospheric temperature and humidity on morbidity from acute coronary syndromes in free of air pollution rural Greece

Abstract

Study objective

An evaluation of the effect of ambient temperature on morbidity from acute coronary syndromes (ACS) while avoiding confounding by air pollution.

Design

An ecological study in rural Greece.

Methods

Daily admissions to hospital because of ACS were recorded for 1 year and analysed versus daily temperature and humidity.

Results

For a 1°C decrease in temperature there was a 1.6% (95% confidence interval 0.9–2.2%) increase in admissions. This effect was more prominent in the elderly. No difference was detected according to sex or type of ACS.

Conclusion

It is important to implement measures against cold in coronary heart disease prevention, irrespective of air pollution.

Keywords

air pollution coronary disease heart disease hospitalization humidity meteorological factors morbidity myocardial infarction patient admissions temperature

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