engleski

Is the answer blowing in the wind? The association between mental-behavioral disorder admissions and wind parameters

Recognition that human health and disease can be affected by weather conditions probably predates written history. The effect of wind was understood as particularly strong, and for this reason some countries had prohibited any important decision-making, or even pardoned crimes committed, during certain wind types. This work examines the relationship between daily wind parameters and the number of medical admissions of patients who are diagnosed with mental and behavioral disorders or with external causes of morbidity and mortality. Data for this research was collected from April 2012 to March 2013 and encompasses 1299 patients admitted through Department of Emergency Medicine Krapina-Zagorje County, Croatia. In particular, this study covers 7 groups of diagnoses, classified according to International Classification of Diseases (ICD), and wind parameters such as direction, strength and speed. Moreover, the seasonality of each diagnosis group and group differences in demographic characteristics of patients are examined. Correspondence analysis and logistic regression were applied revealing both, significant association between admissions of some diagnosis groups and wind parameters, and significant seasonal variation of diagnoses, where similar seasonal patterns across some diagnosis groups were encountered.

biometrics, emergency admissions, mental and behavioral disorders, meteorological factors, correspondence analysis, logistic regression

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