Influence of meteorological factors on the onset of primary spontaneous pneumothorax

INTRODUCTION Although links between meteorological conditions and primary spontaneous pneumothorax have been proposed, the reports are controversial. The aim of the study is to correlate between climatic changes and the development of this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective chart review included all patient presenting with primary spontaneous pneumothorax to King Fand Hospital, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia, from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2016. Meteorological data were collected from King Abdulaziz airbase station using an online source for the same time interval. The data were analysed to determine differences in weather conditions between days on which primary spontaneous pneumothorax occurred and those in which it did not. Logistic regression model was used to obtain predicted risks for the onset of primary spontaneous pneumothorax with respect to weather conditions. RESULT Two hundred and eighty-nine patients were found to have primary spontaneous pneumothorax in the 281 days included in the study. Among the meteorological parameters, significant differences were found in average temperature and atmospheric pressure difference between day of admission and two days before the admission, between days with primary spontaneous pneumothorax and days without. There was no significant difference in the other meteorological factors between days with primary spontaneous pneumothorax and days without. CONCLUSION Two hundred and eighty-nine patients were found to have primary spontaneous pneumothorax in the 281 days included in the study. Among the meteorological parameters, significant differences were found in average temperature and atmospheric pressure difference between day of admission and two days before the admission, between days with primary spontaneous pneumothorax and days without. There was no significant difference in the other meteorological factors between days with primary spontaneous pneumothorax and days without.