Weather Variability and COPD: A Risk Estimation Identified a Vulnerable Sub-population in Hungary

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Pulmonology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a growing global health crisis, with over 200 million affected and a significant increase in mortality and prevalence.
• COPD caused over 3 million deaths in 2019, making it the third leading cause of death worldwide.
• Understanding environmental triggers for COPD exacerbations is crucial for public health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between daily weather variations and emergency department (ED) visits for COPD.
• To identify specific meteorological factors that correlate with increased COPD-related ED visits.

Main Methods:

• Collected daily data on COPD-related ED visits in Pécs during 2017.
• Correlated ED visit data with corresponding daily meteorological data, including diurnal temperature range (DTR) and dew point variability.

Main Results:

• Increased diurnal temperature range (DTR) and day-to-day dew point variability were associated with a 4.5% rise in COPD ED visits.
• DTR showed a stronger impact on males (6.3% increase), while dew point variability significantly affected males (OR=1.083).
• Age and sex-specific risks were observed, with notable increases in younger adults (30-39) and specific age groups for both females and males.

Conclusions:

• Weather variations demonstrably influence the frequency of COPD-related ED visits.
• The impact of weather on COPD exacerbations is nuanced, differing significantly across age groups and sexes.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering meteorological factors in managing COPD patient populations.