Wangjian Zhang1, Zhicheng Du2, Shujie Huang3, Lei Chen4, Weiming Tang5, Heping Zheng6, Bin Yang7, Yuantao Hao8. 1. Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology & Health Information Research Center & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medicine & Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Province 510080, China. Electronic address: zhangwj35@mail2.sysu.edu.cn. 2. Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology & Health Information Research Center & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medicine & Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Province 510080, China. Electronic address: duzhch3@mail2.sysu.edu.cn. 3. Southern Medical University Dermatology Hospital, Guangdong Province 510081, China. Electronic address: huangshj_jm@126.com. 4. Southern Medical University Dermatology Hospital, Guangdong Province 510081, China. Electronic address: gdpuchenlei@163.com. 5. Southern Medical University Dermatology Hospital, Guangdong Province 510081, China; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. 6. Southern Medical University Dermatology Hospital, Guangdong Province 510081, China. Electronic address: hpzheng@21cn.com. 7. Southern Medical University Dermatology Hospital, Guangdong Province 510081, China. Electronic address: yangbin101@hotmail.com. 8. Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology & Health Information Research Center & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medicine & Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Province 510080, China. Electronic address: haoyt@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The relationship between temperature and syphilis is poorly understood despite clues and suggestions from previous studies. We examined the association between human perceived temperature (humidex) and the relative risk of early-stage syphilis in the most affected area of China, as well as its variance across social-economic status and age groups. METHODS: Information regarding early-stage (primary and secondary) syphilis cases reported to the China Case Report System between 2005-2013 from Guangdong province was analyzed in this study. Weather data were obtained from the National Meteorological Information Center. Distributed lag nonlinear models were applied to assess the relationship between humidex and the relative risk of early-stage syphilis. Results were further stratified by social-economic status and age groups. RESULTS: The relative risks of early-stage syphilis mainly increased with increased humidex, and were elevated when the humidex was around 30 or greater than 38. The humidex-RR association for the 15-40 age group was similar to the scenario pooled across the age groups, particularly in the Pearl-River Delta Region. The relative risk of syphilis in the elderly for the non-Pearl-River Delta Region did not show a clear change with humidex, whereas that in the Pearl-River Delta Region substantially increased, particularly when humidex was above 25. CONCLUSIONS: Human perceived temperature was positively related to the relative risk of early-stage syphilis. People in the Pearl-River Delta Region tended to be more sensitive, with relative risk elevated at potential comfortable times or under excessively hot conditions. The vulnerability of the elderly in the Pearl-River Delta Region is concerning.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between temperature and syphilis is poorly understood despite clues and suggestions from previous studies. We examined the association between human perceived temperature (humidex) and the relative risk of early-stage syphilis in the most affected area of China, as well as its variance across social-economic status and age groups. METHODS: Information regarding early-stage (primary and secondary) syphilis cases reported to the China Case Report System between 2005-2013 from Guangdong province was analyzed in this study. Weather data were obtained from the National Meteorological Information Center. Distributed lag nonlinear models were applied to assess the relationship between humidex and the relative risk of early-stage syphilis. Results were further stratified by social-economic status and age groups. RESULTS: The relative risks of early-stage syphilis mainly increased with increased humidex, and were elevated when the humidex was around 30 or greater than 38. The humidex-RR association for the 15-40 age group was similar to the scenario pooled across the age groups, particularly in the Pearl-River Delta Region. The relative risk of syphilis in the elderly for the non-Pearl-River Delta Region did not show a clear change with humidex, whereas that in the Pearl-River Delta Region substantially increased, particularly when humidex was above 25. CONCLUSIONS:Human perceived temperature was positively related to the relative risk of early-stage syphilis. People in the Pearl-River Delta Region tended to be more sensitive, with relative risk elevated at potential comfortable times or under excessively hot conditions. The vulnerability of the elderly in the Pearl-River Delta Region is concerning.
Authors: Nicholas X Tan; Grace X Tan; Li-Gang Yang; Bin Yang; Kimberly A Powers; Michael E Emch; Joseph D Tucker Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2013-09-16 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Fateh Chebana; Barbara Martel; Pierre Gosselin; Jean-Xavier Giroux; Taha B M J Ouarda Journal: Int J Biometeorol Date: 2012-10-26 Impact factor: 3.787