Evaluation of meteorological and epidemiological characteristics of fatal pulmonary embolism

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to identify risk factors among epidemiological factors and meteorological conditions in connection with fatal pulmonary embolism. Information was collected from forensic autopsy records in sudden unexpected death cases where pulmonary embolism was the exact cause of death between 2001 and 2010 in Budapest. Meteorological parameters were detected during the investigated period. Gender, age, manner of death, cause of death, place of death, post-mortem pathomorphological changes and daily meteorological conditions (i.e. daily mean temperature and atmospheric pressure) were examined. We detected that the number of registered pulmonary embolism (No 467, 211 male) follows power law in time regardless of the manner of death. We first described that the number of registered fatal pulmonary embolism up to the nth day can be expressed as Y(n) = α ⋅ n (β) where Y denotes the number of fatal pulmonary embolisms up to the nth day and α > 0 and β > 1 are model parameters. We found that there is a definite link between the cold temperature and the increasing incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism. Cold temperature and the change of air pressure appear to be predisposing factors for fatal pulmonary embolism. Meteorological parameters should have provided additional information about the predisposing factors of thromboembolism.

Seasonal variation in the frequency of venous thromboembolism: An updated result of a meta-analysis and systemic review

“…A total of 106 among the 129 studies were excluded for the reasons as follows: five studies 15–19 failed to provide data aggregated on monthly and seasonal retrieval, seven reported insufficient data, 15 were commentary literature or reviews, and 55 cannot meet the inclusion criteria. Finally, it was identified that 23 eligible studies 7–9,20–39 met the inclusion criteria of the meta-analysis, including 40,309 patients with VTE including PE, DVT, or SVT. Figure 1 summarizes the selection flow and inclusion process of the study.…”

“…Our findings in this present meta-analysis are similar to some included studies. For example, four studies 16,22,26,31 showed a peak in VTE incidence in the cooler season for the lower atmospheric pressure. Four more studies 21,29,34,36 reported that the incidence of VTE was increased in winter, but Anar et al.…”

“…According to a statistical analysis of VTE incidence, October has a higher incidence, compared with March and May. According to Törő et al., 22 the PE risk will increase because of rapid temperature decrease and pressure change, which can possibly be attributed to the much lower temperature in October, compared with the much higher temperature March and May.…”

Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Sudden Death Due to Pulmonary Thromboembolism: A Retrospective Study

“…Deaths among the elderly were more frequent in autumn (p=0.0093), and less common in summer (p=0.0053). Increased mobility after winter months, while outdoor temperature is still low, and atmospheric pressure variations in spring and autumn are risk factors for lethal PTE (Törő et al, 2016). Seasonal distribution by age groups is represented in Figure 2.…”

Effect of air pollution, air pressure and air temperature on new onset pulmonary thromboembolism: A case-control study

“…Changes in air temperature and climate affect gas density, causing changes in average air pressure. In the literature, fatal PE cases have also been reported in air pressure changes [10,11]. Kütahya air pressure values for the days included in the study ranged from 894 to 918 mbar (904 (0.25)).…”