title: Low atmospheric pressure and humidity are related with more frequent pulmonary embolism episodes in male patients.
abstract: Pulmonary embolism is a frequent condition, related with high mortality. Frequency of pulmonary embolism episodes has been related with several meteorological factors. The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of meteorological factors on the occurrence of pulmonary embolism in male and female patients. Medical data of patients hospitalized at our institution in 2007-2008 was analyzed. Study group included 400 patients with pulmonary embolism, living in the region located at an average level of about 200 m above sea level, with climate of a transitional character between maritime and continental climates. No significant differences in seasonal distribution of pulmonary embolism episodes were observed. A significant inverse correlation of the number of pulmonary embolism cases and atmospheric pressure, as well as air humidity, was identified in male patients. No significant correlations of temperature, wind velocity, precipitation and number of PE cases were observed. The influence of meteorological factors on the occurrence of pulmonary embolism in males is a new finding. A prospective study is warranted to further analyze this result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-079 Lublin, Poland. grzegorz.staskiewicz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Staskiewicz
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Czekajska-Chehab
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pachowicz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radej
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opielak
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maciejewski
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drop
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism; D012621:Seasons; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014887:Weather