Influence of thermal stress on the incidence of acute myocardial infarction in a temperate climate.
Using a Poisson regression model the relative incidence of acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) prospectively registered in 8 hospitals within a radius of 50 km during a 2-year period was correlated with the outside conditions characterized by a complete thermophysiological model (Klima-Michel Model) defining thermal stress. An increase in the incidence of AMI related to thermal stress could be demonstrated neither by splitting the study period into 12 equally sized 'felt-temperature' classes by months of the year nor by single days. This was confirmed by correlation of the AMI rate with the mean felt-temperature level during the preceding 14 days. Thermal stress caused by the atmospheric conditions in a temperate climate may be too weak to influence significantly the incidence of AMI.
Medizinische Klinik, Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie/Angiologie, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.
R
R
Fries
J
J
Jung
C
C
Ozbek
W
W
Bay
H
H
Schieffer
A
A
Heisel
D000368:Aged; D002980:Climate; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013696:Temperature