The Associations of Long-Term Temperature and Precipitation with Chronic Respiratory Symptoms: Projections for the Changing Climate.

Purpose: To clarify the associations of climatic indices with chronic respiratory symptoms, with a final aim to approximate the effects of climate change on them.
Methods: An e-mail survey was directed to the members of the Finnish Pensioners` Federation. The mean 20-years' precipitation and temperature in each subjects' home municipality were obtained from the Finnish Meteorological Institute, separately for summer and winter. Adjusted multivariate models were utilized to investigate the associations of the climatic indices with chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic cough, wheezing with dyspnea, and sleep apnea.
Results: There were 6189 responders from 283 municipalities. Chronic rhinosinusitis and chronic cough were most prevalent in the southeastern regions of the country, where the precipitation counts were highest. In the multivariate models, winter precipitation in the home municipality increased the risks of chronic rhinosinusitis and chronic cough [adjusted OR 1.80 (1.30-2.51) per 100 mm, p < 0.001, and 1.57 (1.19-2.07) per 100 mm, p = 0.001, respectively]. Wheezing with dyspnea and sleep apnea were not associated with the climatic indices.
Conclusion: Chronic rhinosinusitis and chronic cough were associated with long-term winter precipitation. Given the anticipated increase in winter precipitation in Northern America and Northern Europe, the prevalences of chronic rhinosinusitis and chronic cough may increase there.
Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of Interests: Heikki O Koskela has received funding for the present study from Kuopion Seudun Hengityssäätiö and Hengityssairauksien Tutkimussäätiö Foundations, payments for lectures from Boehringer Ingelheim and MSD, and owns shares of a medical company Orion. Johanna T Kaulamo has received funding for the present study from Kuopion Seudun Hengityssäätiö, Hengityssairauksien Tutkimussäätiö, Suomen Tuberkuloosin vastustamisyhdistyksen Säätiö, Väinö ja Laina Kiven Säätiö, and Suomen Kulttuurirahasto foundations, and travel support from Boehringer-Ingelheim for attending a scientific meeting. Anne M Lätti has received funding for the present study from Kuopion Seudun Hengityssäätiö, Hengityssairauksien Tutkimussäätiö, KYS:n Tutkimussäätiö, Suomen Tuberkuloosin Vastustamisyhdistyksen Säätiö, and Väinö ja Laina Kiven Säätiö Foundations, travel support from Orion, Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche for attending a scientific meeting, and payment for lectures and Advisory Board participations from Farmasian oppimiskeskus, MSD and GlaxoSmithKline. The authors have no other financial or non-financial competing interests. Ethical Approval: This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Kuopio University Hospital (289/2015). Consent to Participate: The decision to respond to the questionnaire was considered as an informed consent. Consent to Publish: Not applicable.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)