Short-term effects of atmospheric temperature and humidity on morbidity from acute coronary syndromes in free of air pollution rural Greece.
OBJECTIVE
An evaluation of the effect of ambient temperature on morbidity from acute coronary syndromes (ACS) while avoiding confounding by air pollution.


METHODS
An ecological study in rural Greece.


METHODS
Daily admissions to hospital because of ACS were recorded for 1 year and analysed versus daily temperature and humidity.


RESULTS
For a 1 degrees C decrease in temperature there was a 1.6% (95% confidence interval 0.9-2.2%) increase in admissions. This effect was more prominent in the elderly. No difference was detected according to sex or type of ACS.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to implement measures against cold in coronary heart disease prevention, irrespective of air pollution.
Misailidou
Maria
M
First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. mmisailid@med.uoa.gr
Pitsavos
Christos
C
Panagiotakos
Demosthenes B
DB
Chrysohoou
Christina
C
Stefanadis
Christodoulos
C
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013696:Temperature