Influence of weather on daily hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction (from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry).
BACKGROUND
We investigated the association between meteorological parameters and hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a temperate and continental climate, Korea.


METHODS
From the Korean AMI Registry, 2136 Koreans admitted for AMI in four university hospitals in Daegu city from November 2005 to October 2007 were included in this study. We calculated the incidences of AMI per season, per month, and per day-of-week. The meteorological parameters, including air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, sunshine duration, and a thermo-hydrological index, were provided by the database of the Korea Meteorological Administration. Generalized additive Poisson models were used.


RESULTS
Seasonal variations were noted for AMI, characterized by winter peak and summer trough (p<0.001). Monthly occurrence rate of AMI was highest in January and lowest in October (p<0.001). There were significant associations between hospital admissions and meteorological parameters including air temperature, relative humidity, and sunshine duration after controlling for effects of day-of-week, season, and holidays (p<0.05). These associations were stronger in females and the younger age (<65 years) (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of AMI shows seasonal and monthly variations. Meteorological parameters have a significant influence on the occurrence of AMI, particularly in females and the younger age.
Lee
Jang Hoon
JH
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Chung-Ku, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Chae
Shung Chull
SC
Yang
Dong Heon
DH
Park
Hun Sik
HS
Cho
Yongkeun
Y
Jun
Jae-Eun
JE
Park
Wee-Hyun
WH
Kam
Sin
S
Lee
Won Kee
WK
Kim
Young Jo
YJ
Kim
Kee Sik
KS
Hur
Seung Ho
SH
Jeong
Myung Ho
MH
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D014887:Weather