title: Extreme weather and air pollution effects on cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions in Cyprus.
abstract: In many regions of the world, climatic change is associated with increased extreme temperatures, which can have severe effects on mortality and morbidity. In this study, we examine the effect of extreme weather on hospital admissions in Cyprus, for inland and coastal areas, through the use of synoptic weather classifications (air mass types). In addition, the effect of particulate air pollution (PM10) on morbidity is examined. Our results show that two air mass types, namely (a) warm, rainy days with increased levels of water vapour in the atmosphere and (b) cold, cloudy days with increased levels of precipitation, were associated with increased morbidity in the form of hospital admissions. This was true both for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, for all age groups, but particularly for the elderly, aged over 65. Particulate air pollution was also associated with increased morbidity in Cyprus, where the effect was more pronounced for cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: University of Nicosia Research Foundation, University of Nicosia, 49 Makedonitissas Ave, 1700 Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsangari
authors.affiliation: Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, GR-68200 Orestiada, Greece. Electronic address: apascha@fmenr.duth.gr.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Paschalidou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Meteorology, Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kassomenos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Oxon OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vardoulakis
authors.affiliation: Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton, Oxon OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heaviside
authors.affiliation: Cyprus Centre for European and International Affairs, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.affiliation: University of Nicosia Research Foundation, University of Nicosia, 49 Makedonitissas Ave, 1700 Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003535:Cyprus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Air mass types; Cardiovascular/respiratory diseases; Heat waves; Hospital admissions; Particulate air pollution; Public health