Meteorological Factors and Air Pollutants Contributing to Seasonal Variation of Acute Exacerbation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Population-Based Study. Issue 12 (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahn, Jinhee; Uhm, Taewoong; Han, Junhee; Won, Kyung-Mi; Choe, Jeong Cheon; Shin, Ji Yeon; Park, Jin Sup; Lee, Hye Won; Oh, Jun-Hyok; Choi, Jung Hyun; Lee, Han-Cheol; Cha, Kwang Soo; Hong, Taek Jong; Kim, Young-Hoon
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 60:Issue 12(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: air pollution -- atrial fibrillation -- exacerbation -- meteorology -- temperature; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001449
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: We investigated seasonal variation of acute exacerbation of atrial fibrillation (AAF) and contributing environmental factors. Methods: AAF events, meteorological elements, and air pollutants in Seoul between 2013 and 2015 were obtained from the nationwide database. AAF was defined if a patient visited the emergency room due to any AF-relevant symptoms or signs. Results: AAF occurred less frequently in summer than in other seasons (6.71 vs 7.25 events/d, P = 0.005). AAF tended to decrease with an increase of air temperature ( r = –0.058). Among air pollutants, NO2 was significantly lower in summer and positively correlated with AAF after adjusting for other variables ( β = 3.197). Conclusions: The rate of AAF events was the lowest in summer; air temperature and NO2 were contributing factors. The weather and environmental conditions should be considered as risk factors of AAF. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text