Effect of meteorological variables on the incidence of respiratory tract infections.
OBJECTIVE
The possible effect of the various meteorological variables on the incidence of upper and lower respiratory tract infections (RTIs) has intrigued the scientific community for decades.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective analysis regarding the association between meteorological variables and clinical data for upper and lower RTIs in the area of Attica, Greece.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant (P<0.001) negative correlation between weekly average temperature with the proportion of weekly house call visits resulting in a diagnosis of upper or lower RTIs 4 days later (R=-0.56 and -0.71 for upper and lower RTIs, respectively) as well as 7 days later (R=-0.57 and -0.71 for upper and lower RTIs, respectively) and during the same day (R=-0.55 and -0.68 for upper and lower RTIs, respectively). In addition, there was a negative correlation between weekly wind chill average (and minimum) temperature as well as a positive correlation of relative humidity with upper and lower RTIs. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between wind speed and upper or lower RTIs.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that house call visits due to upper and lower RTIs increased as the average temperature in the area of Attica decreased.
Falagas
Matthew E
ME
Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece. m.falagas@aibs.gr
Theocharis
George
G
Spanos
Alex
A
Vlara
Lambrini A
LA
Issaris
Evangelos A
EA
Panos
George
G
Peppas
George
G
D006115:Greece; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D015994:Incidence; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D016008:Statistical Distributions; D013696:Temperature; D014887:Weather; D014919:Wind