Effect of meteoroloji̇c parameters and ai̇r quali̇ty on cli̇ni̇cal characteri̇sti̇cs of patients wi̇th copd exacarbati̇ons admi̇tted to our emergency department

In our current study we aimed to determine effects of meteorological parameters on acute exacerbations of COPD. We conducted our study in Abant İzzet Baysal University Emergency Department between 01.06.2016-30.05.2017 on all patients with COPD exacerbations retrospectively. İnvestigated data were age, gender, occupational status, household status, educational status, smoking, cooling options, comorbidities, admission time, symptoms, vital signs, physical examination, frequency of emergency department attendance, hospitalization and emergency department outcome. Meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, wind status, PM 10,SO2) on admission were also investigated. In our study main objective was to determine relationship between meteorological factors with attendances and attendee's frequency due to COPD exacerbations. Mean age of patients were 71.6±9.7 years. 76.8% of patients were male. At least one COPD exacerbation was found during the 228(%62.5) of predetermined 365 days. Total attendance was 353, mostly in winter months. Temperature was lower and SO2 levels were higher in days when patients admitted for COPD exacerbations(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in attendance days and non-attendance days in terms of humidity, wind status and PM10 levels (p>0.05). Attendance count was positively correlated with PM10 and SO2 and negatively with temperature and wind status. (p<0.05). No relations were encountered with humidity and attendance count (p>0.05). Humidity, temperature, PM 10 and SO2 levels in last 4 days found to not effect emergency attendees count(p>0.05). Wind status in last 4 days did not influence COPD attendance but counts. Wind speed have negative effect on attendance frequency (p<0.05). As a result; temperature and SO2 levels have direct effect on COPD exacerbation frequency besides humidity, wind status and PM10 levels have relative or direct consequences.