Publicação
IMPACTO DA VARIAÇÃO CLIMÁTICA SEMANAL NAS EXACERBAÇÕES AGUDAS DA DPOC
| Resumo: | Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with acute exacerbations playing a key role in disease progression and patient prognosis. The influence of seasonality and meteorological factors on the occurrence and severity of these exacerbations remains unclear.Methods: Retrospective longitudinal observational cohort study including patients admitted to the emergency department of the Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra with a diagnosis of COPD exacerbation during the year 2025. Clinical and sociodemographic data were analysed, along with meteorological variables (temperature, humidity, precipitation) and air pollution levels (PM10). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, appropriate inferential tests, and multivariable logistic regression.Results: A total of 197 COPD exacerbation episodes were included, with a mean age of 72.1±10.4 years, predominantly male (81.2%). A seasonal pattern was observed, with a higher frequency of exacerbations in winter (p<0.001). Univariate analysis showed a significant association between exacerbations and meteorological variables (p<0.001), but these associations lost significance after adjustment for seasonality (p>0.05). In the multivariable model, active smoking and infectious aetiology were independently associated with a higher probability of hospitalisation (p<0.01), whereas age and sex were not significantly associated. Precipitation was associated with infectious aetiology, while PM10 levels presented as severity modulators depending on the thermal context.Discussion: These findings reinforce the central role of smoking and respiratory infections in the severity of COPD exacerbations and the need for hospitalisation. Meteorological and pollution variables appear to act mainly within the context of seasonality. The association between precipitation and infectious aetiology may reflect the influence of environmental conditions on the transmission of respiratory infections.Conclusion: COPD exacerbations show a seasonal pattern, with smoking and infectious aetiology predominating in disease worsening. Meteorological variables did not demonstrate a consistent independent effect in this study, highlighting the importance of patient-centred preventive strategies targeted at high-risk periods. |
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| Autores principais: | Barreiros, Rafael da Costa |
| Assunto: | COPD Seasonality Exacerbations Climate Change Prevention DPOC Sazonalidade Exacerbações Mudança Climática Prevenção |
| Ano: | 2026 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso embargado |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Coimbra |
| Idioma: | português |
| Origem: | Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra |
| Resumo: | Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with acute exacerbations playing a key role in disease progression and patient prognosis. The influence of seasonality and meteorological factors on the occurrence and severity of these exacerbations remains unclear.Methods: Retrospective longitudinal observational cohort study including patients admitted to the emergency department of the Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra with a diagnosis of COPD exacerbation during the year 2025. Clinical and sociodemographic data were analysed, along with meteorological variables (temperature, humidity, precipitation) and air pollution levels (PM10). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, appropriate inferential tests, and multivariable logistic regression.Results: A total of 197 COPD exacerbation episodes were included, with a mean age of 72.1±10.4 years, predominantly male (81.2%). A seasonal pattern was observed, with a higher frequency of exacerbations in winter (p<0.001). Univariate analysis showed a significant association between exacerbations and meteorological variables (p<0.001), but these associations lost significance after adjustment for seasonality (p>0.05). In the multivariable model, active smoking and infectious aetiology were independently associated with a higher probability of hospitalisation (p<0.01), whereas age and sex were not significantly associated. Precipitation was associated with infectious aetiology, while PM10 levels presented as severity modulators depending on the thermal context.Discussion: These findings reinforce the central role of smoking and respiratory infections in the severity of COPD exacerbations and the need for hospitalisation. Meteorological and pollution variables appear to act mainly within the context of seasonality. The association between precipitation and infectious aetiology may reflect the influence of environmental conditions on the transmission of respiratory infections.Conclusion: COPD exacerbations show a seasonal pattern, with smoking and infectious aetiology predominating in disease worsening. Meteorological variables did not demonstrate a consistent independent effect in this study, highlighting the importance of patient-centred preventive strategies targeted at high-risk periods. |
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