PURPOSE: To analyze the influence of meteorological factors such as atmospheric pressure (AP), outdoor temperature (T) changes, and weather phases (WP) on the occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). METHODS: Retrospective study, including 659 patients with primary SP and SP associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), conservatively treated in a 5-year period. In the analyzed period, 548 days with SP were compared both with 3 days preceding the onset of SP and with days without pneumothorax. The comparison was made depending on weather phases and on different aspects of AP and T. RESULTS: Seasons of the year did not significantly influence the occurrence of SP. No significant difference was found between SP and non-SP days depending on different aspects of AP and T changes. Most patients were admitted in "clusters" with not more than 2, 3, or 4 days between two successive admissions. The occurrence of SP was significantly correlated with weather phases 2ts (anticyclonic situation with warm and dry weather) and 5 hv (passing of the cold front). Biological sense and possible explanations of this correlation are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Among all analyzed meteorological factors, significant correlation was found only between weather phases 2ts and 5hv and the occurrence of SP.
PURPOSE: To analyze the influence of meteorological factors such as atmospheric pressure (AP), outdoor temperature (T) changes, and weather phases (WP) on the occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). METHODS: Retrospective study, including 659 patients with primary SP and SP associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), conservatively treated in a 5-year period. In the analyzed period, 548 days with SP were compared both with 3 days preceding the onset of SP and with days without pneumothorax. The comparison was made depending on weather phases and on different aspects of AP and T. RESULTS: Seasons of the year did not significantly influence the occurrence of SP. No significant difference was found between SP and non-SP days depending on different aspects of AP and T changes. Most patients were admitted in "clusters" with not more than 2, 3, or 4 days between two successive admissions. The occurrence of SP was significantly correlated with weather phases 2ts (anticyclonic situation with warm and dry weather) and 5 hv (passing of the cold front). Biological sense and possible explanations of this correlation are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Among all analyzed meteorological factors, significant correlation was found only between weather phases 2ts and 5hv and the occurrence of SP.
Authors: Colin Schieman; Andrew Graham; Gary Gelfand; Sean P McFadden; Corina Tiruta; Michael D Hill; Sean C Grondin Journal: Can J Surg Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 2.089