The effects of the climatic elements on occurrence of the spontaneous pneumothorax

Abstract

Results 342 of the patients were male and 42 were female. Mean age was 21.9±0.5 years old. Month (p=0.563), season (p=0.264) and weather (p=0.327) were not associated with the occurrence rate of SPM. Mean temperatures, mean humidity, mean wind velocities of SPM occurrence day and non-occurrence day were 12.4±10.5°C : 12.8±10.5° C (p=0.504), 61.8±15.5% : 60.9±15.0% (p=0.372), 2.6±1.0m/s : 2.6±2.1m/s (p=0.893) respectively. As to the atmospheric pressure, mean, maximum, minimal value of occurrence day and non-occurrence day were 1012.6±9.7 hPa : 1012.7±9.0 hPa (p=0.850), 1018.7±8.2 hPa : 1018.5 ±7.8 hPa (p=0.645), 1013.4±8.1 hPa : 1013.6±7.9 hPa (p=0.755) respectively. But, differences between maximum and minimum value were 5.3±2.9 hPa on occurrence day and 4.9±2.6 hPa on non-occurrence day (p=0.037). Conclusion There was no relationship between the occurrence of SPM and weather, season, temperature, humidity and wind velocity. But, the difference of the atmospheric pressure throughout the day was associated with occurrence of SPM. We concluded that the change of atmospheric pressure influenced the rupture of bullas that caused SPM.