Associations Between Meteorological Factors and Cardiac-Related Morbidity in Three South Korean Cities

Climate change is a major factor influencing cardiovascular health, yet its impact on diverse cardiac conditions in East Asia remains insufficiently explored. This study investigated associations between meteorological factors and cardiac morbidity in three South Korean cities, i.e. Seoul, Busan, and Daejeon using monthly administrative data from 2010 to 2023. Generalized additive models were employed to assess the effects of temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather indicators on acute pericarditis and heartbeat abnormalities. The results revealed distinct city-specific sensitivities: in Seoul, heatwave days were positively associated with increased pericarditis visits, while in Busan, more frequent precipitation days were linked to higher risks of heartbeat abnormalities. Furthermore, relative humidity emerged as a significant factor, with lower humidity levels correlating with increased pericarditis in Seoul and Daejeon, and higher humidity associated with elevated heartbeat abnormality risks in Seoul. Our results indicate that urban cardiovascular vulnerability involves a complex interplay of thermal and hygrometric stressors that varies by city. These findings highlight the importance of weather factors beyond temperature alone, suggesting the necessity of considering city-specific climate patterns in epidemiological monitoring.