Influence of Atmospheric Pressure, Outdoor Temperature, and Weather Phases on the Onset of Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Purpose

To analyze the influence of meteorological factors such as atmospheric pressure (AP), outdoor temperature (T) changes, and weather phases (WP) on the occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP).

Methods

Retrospective study, including 659 patients with primary SP and SP associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), conservatively treated in a 5-year period. In the analyzed period, 548 days with SP were compared both with 3 days preceding the onset of SP and with days without pneumothorax. The comparison was made depending on weather phases and on different aspects of AP and T.

Results

Seasons of the year did not significantly influence the occurrence of SP. No significant difference was found between SP and non-SP days depending on different aspects of AP and T changes. Most patients were admitted in “clusters” with not more than 2, 3, or 4 days between two successive admissions. The occurrence of SP was significantly correlated with weather phases 2ts (anticyclonic situation with warm and dry weather) and 5 hv (passing of the cold front). Biological sense and possible explanations of this correlation are discussed.

Conclusions

Among all analyzed meteorological factors, significant correlation was found only between weather phases 2ts and 5hv and the occurrence of SP.

Key words: Weather Phases, Pneumothorax, Atmospheric Pressure, Temperature