Association between diurnal temperature range and sinusitis: a multi-city time-series analysis

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Sinusitis is a prevalent upper respiratory tract infection with significant healthcare costs.
• Environmental factors, including temperature variability, are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to respiratory illnesses.
• Understanding the impact of diurnal temperature range (DTR) on sinusitis risk is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between diurnal temperature range (DTR) and the risk of developing acute and chronic sinusitis.
• To analyze subgroup variations in DTR-related sinusitis risk based on demographics and environmental factors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Korean National Health Information Database (NHID) from 2006-2019, covering 16 administrative regions.
• Employed a two-stage analytical approach combining generalized additive models and meta-analysis to assess the DTR-sinusitis relationship.
• Conducted subgroup analyses stratified by sex, age group, mean temperature percentiles, and PM10 concentration.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between DTR and both acute and chronic sinusitis.
• Pooled relative risks for DTR were 1.0074 (95% CI: 1.0060-1.0089) for acute sinusitis and 1.0082 (95% CI: 1.0064-1.0101) for chronic sinusitis at lag 0-4 days.
• Increased sinusitis risk was observed in individuals aged 15-65 years, men, and in regions with specific mean temperature ranges and lower PM10 levels.

Conclusions:

• Diurnal temperature range (DTR) is demonstrably associated with an increased risk of sinusitis.
• Findings suggest that temperature variability is a relevant factor in sinusitis etiology.
• Results provide a basis for developing preventive strategies against sinusitis, a common and costly health issue.