Impact of meteorological factors on the emergence of bronchiolitis in North-western Greece

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between meteorological factors in North-western Greece and the incidence of bronchiolitis. MethodsMeteorological data (air temperature and rainfall) for Ioannina city in North-western Greece and medical data from hospitalised patients at University Hospital of Ioannina were collected between January 2002 and December 2013. The association between meteorological factors and rate of hospitalisation due to bronchiolitis was investigated. The data processing was done using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and applying the chi-square test at contingency tables of the parameters. ResultsOf the 792 hospitalised cases, 670 related to infants (<1 year) and 122 concerned patients aged 1–2 years old. The disease is more common among boys (59.5%) than girls (40.5%). The disease course through the year has a double variation with a main maximum in March and a main minimum in August. The statistical study showed statistically significant correlation of bronchiolitis with: (a) the temperature parameters on an annual basis; (b) precipitation in autumn and dryness in spring; and (c) with sudden changes in diurnal temperature range on an annual basis. ConclusionA peak incidence of bronchiolitis was noticed in cold and wet seasons during the five days preceding hospitalisation.