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Seasonality of pneumonia admissions and its association with climate: an eight-year nationwide population-based study
Type
article
Resource
Chronobiology International. 26(8): 1647–1659.
Date Issued
2009
Author(s)
林秀真; Lin,Ching-Chun; Chen,Chin-Shyan; Lin,Herng-Ching
Subjects
小兒學科
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine seasonal variability in monthly admissions for
community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Taiwan. Our study sample comprised
477,541 pneumonia patients in Taiwan between 1998 and 2005, inclusive. Results
showed a fairly consistent seasonal pattern of pneumonia admissions, regardless of sex
and age, and for the groups combined. Seasonal trends showed a peak in hospitalizations
from January through April, followed by a sharp decrease in May and a trough
from August through October. The auto-regressive integrated moving average
(ARIMA) test found significant seasonality for all age and sex groups and for the whole
sample (all p < 0.001). After adjusting for seasonality, month, and trends, the ARIMA
regression models revealed that the monthly pneumonia admissions rate was significantly
associated with ambient temperature, for the total sample, for female groups,
and for the 65–74 and ≥75 age groups (all p < 0.01). A 1°C decrease in ambient temperature
was associated with roughly a 0.03 increase in monthly pneumonia admissions
rate (per 10,000 people) for the entire sample. We conclude the monthly pneumonia
admissions rate was significantly associated with seasonality, and was higher in periods
with low ambient temperatures.
community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Taiwan. Our study sample comprised
477,541 pneumonia patients in Taiwan between 1998 and 2005, inclusive. Results
showed a fairly consistent seasonal pattern of pneumonia admissions, regardless of sex
and age, and for the groups combined. Seasonal trends showed a peak in hospitalizations
from January through April, followed by a sharp decrease in May and a trough
from August through October. The auto-regressive integrated moving average
(ARIMA) test found significant seasonality for all age and sex groups and for the whole
sample (all p < 0.001). After adjusting for seasonality, month, and trends, the ARIMA
regression models revealed that the monthly pneumonia admissions rate was significantly
associated with ambient temperature, for the total sample, for female groups,
and for the 65–74 and ≥75 age groups (all p < 0.01). A 1°C decrease in ambient temperature
was associated with roughly a 0.03 increase in monthly pneumonia admissions
rate (per 10,000 people) for the entire sample. We conclude the monthly pneumonia
admissions rate was significantly associated with seasonality, and was higher in periods
with low ambient temperatures.