Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the influence of meteorological factors on hospital admissions for pneumonia in children and elderly in Bauru and Pelotas cities, between 2009 to 2016. The health information was obtained from the Brazilian System Database and the daily average temperature and relative humidity from the meteorological stations of the National Institute of Meteorology and of the UNESP Meteorological Center. Descriptive analyses were performed to verify temporal trends and seasonal variations of meteorological variables and hospitalizations. Spearman correlation and Generalized Additive Model (GAM) Statistical methods were applied too. The results showed that Pelotas, presents the highest frequency of hospitalizations. It’s observed an increase in admissions in winter in both cities, except for children, in Bauru/SP, which occurs more frequently in the fall. The correlation was significant for low air temperature and high relative humidity. In addition, the GAM indicated a higher risk of hospitalizations with temperatures below 16°C and relative humidity above 40% (Bauru) and 80% in Pelotas. The increase in hospitalizations occurs in winter, and caused by the low temperatures and high relative humidity.
Highlights
Pneumonia is a severe lung infection caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or inhalation of toxic substances, and is considered the main cause of death from respiratory infection in the elderly and children worldwide. (ANDRADE FILHO et al, 2013; World Health Organization (WHO), 2016)
The objective of this paper is to analyze the effect of weather and climate conditions, air temperature and relative humidity, on the occurrence and hospitalization for pneumonia in children and the elderly in two Brazilian regions under different climatic conditions
Figure 2 shows the daily values of the meteorological variables during the eight years analyzed
Summary
Pneumonia is a severe lung infection caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or inhalation of toxic substances, and is considered the main cause of death from respiratory infection in the elderly and children (under 5 years old) worldwide. (ANDRADE FILHO et al, 2013; WHO, 2016). As the population of children and the elderly is the most influenced by changes in weather and climate (due to greater body thermoregulation problems, and greater sensitivity to environmental factors), an increase in the frequency of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases can be expected (GONCALVES; COELHO, 2010). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), levels below 60% relative humidity are not adequate for human health and already deserve attention, because they can impact human life. As symptoms, they can cause skin dryness, eye irritation, dryness of the nasal mucous membranes and throat, and rhinitis or flu-related symptoms (ARUNDEL et al, 1986). The objective of this paper is to analyze the effect of weather and climate conditions, air temperature and relative humidity, on the occurrence and hospitalization for pneumonia in children and the elderly in two Brazilian regions under different climatic conditions
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