Work

Effects of temperature, humidity, and diurnal temperature range on influenza incidence in a temperate region

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The effect of temperature and humidity on the incidence of influenza may differ by climate region. In addition, the effect of diurnal temperature range on influenza incidence is unclear, according to previous study findings. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of temperature, humidity, and diurnal temperature range on the incidence of influenza in Seoul, Republic of Korea, which is located in a temperate region. METHODS: We used Korean National Health insurance data to assess the weekly influenza incidence between 2010 and 2016, and used meteorological data from Seoul. To investigate the effect of temperature, relative humidity, and diurnal temperature range levels on influenza incidence, we used a distributed lag non-linear model. RESULTS: The risk of influenza incidence was significantly increased with low daily temperatures of 0-5°C and low (30%-40%) or high (70%) relative humidity. We found a positive significant association between diurnal temperature range and influenza incidence in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza incidence increased with low temperature and low/high humidity in a temperate region. Influenza incidence also increased with high diurnal temperature range, after considering temperature and humidity.

Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses

DOI: 10.1111/irv.12682

Authors: Ji‐Eun Park, Woo‐Sik Son, Yeonhee Ryu, Soo Beom Choi, Okyu Kwon, Insung Ahn

Institutions: Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, National Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information

Language: English

Topic: Climate Change and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,700