Influence of atmospheric pressure, outdoor temperature, and weather phases on the onset of spontaneous pneumothorax.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the influence of meteorological factors such as atmospheric pressure (AP), outdoor temperature (T) changes, and weather phases (WP) on the occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP).


METHODS
Retrospective study, including 659 patients with primary SP and SP associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), conservatively treated in a 5-year period. In the analyzed period, 548 days with SP were compared both with 3 days preceding the onset of SP and with days without pneumothorax. The comparison was made depending on weather phases and on different aspects of AP and T.


RESULTS
Seasons of the year did not significantly influence the occurrence of SP. No significant difference was found between SP and non-SP days depending on different aspects of AP and T changes. Most patients were admitted in "clusters" with not more than 2, 3, or 4 days between two successive admissions. The occurrence of SP was significantly correlated with weather phases 2ts (anticyclonic situation with warm and dry weather) and 5 hv (passing of the cold front). Biological sense and possible explanations of this correlation are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Among all analyzed meteorological factors, significant correlation was found only between weather phases 2ts and 5hv and the occurrence of SP.
Bulajich
Branka
B
Intensive Care Unit, Institute for Lung Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.
Subotich
Dragan
D
Mandarich
Dragan
D
Kljajich
Radmila Vojnovich
RV
Gajich
Milan
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014887:Weather; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology