Low ambient temperature increases hospital re-admissions for systemic lupus erythematosus in humid subtropical region: a time series study

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2021, Vol.28 (1), p.530-537
• Main Authors: Wu, Qian, Xu, Zhiwei, Dan, Yi-Lin, Wang, Peng, Mao, Yan-Mei, Zhao, Chan-Na, Zou, Yan-Feng, Ye, Dong-Qing, Hu, Wenbiao, Pan, Hai-Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ambient temperature; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; China - epidemiology; Chronic conditions; Cities; Correlation analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological studies; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - epidemiology; Meteorological data; Patient admissions; Relative humidity; Research Article; Seasonal variations; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Temperature; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10488-7

Currently, the correlation between ambient temperature and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) hospital admissions remains not determined. The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between ambient temperature and SLE hospital admissions in Hefei City, China. An ecological study design was adopted. Daily data on SLE hospital admissions in Hefei City, from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017, were obtained from the two largest tertiary hospitals in Hefei, and the daily meteorological data at the same period were retrieved from China Meteorological Data Network. The generalized additive model (GAM) combined with distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) with Poisson link was applied to evaluate the influence of ambient temperature on SLE hospital admissions after controlling for potential confounding factors, including seasonality, relative humidity, day of week, and long-term trend. There were 1658 SLE hospital admissions from 2007 to 2017, including 370 first admissions and 1192 re-admissions (there were 96 admissions with admission status not stated). No correlation was observed between ambient temperature and SLE first admissions, but a correlation was found between low ambient temperature and SLE re-admissions (RR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.11, 5.77) (3.5 °C vs 21 °C). The effect of ambient temperature on SLE re-admissions remained for 2 weeks but disappeared in 3 weeks. Exposure to low ambient temperature may increase hospital re-admissions for SLE, and thus it is important for SLE patients to maintain a warm living environment and avoid exposure to lower ambient temperature.