2018
Author(s): Rozenbaum Z, Topilsky Y, Khoury S, Assi M, Balchyunayte A, Laufer-Perl M, Berliner S, Pereg D, Entin-Meer M, Havakuk O
Studies performed in controlled laboratory conditions have shown that environmental thermal application may induce various circulatory changes. We aimed to demonstrate the effect of local climate on hemodynamics according to echocardiography . Echocardiographic studies conducted in ambulatory patients, 18 years of age or older, between January 2012 and July 2016 at our medical center were retrospectively included in case climate data on the day of the echocardiogram were available. Discomfort index, apparent temperature, temperature-humidity index, and thermal index were computed. Echocardiograms conducted in hotter months (June-November) were compared to those done in colder months (December-May). The cohort consisted of 11,348 individuals, 46.2% females, and mean age 57.9 (+/-18.1) years. Climate indices correlated directly with stroke volume (r=0.039) and e' (lateral r=0.047; septal r=0.038), and inversely with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP; r=-0.038) (all p-values<0.05). After adjustment for age and gender, echocardiograms conducted during June-November had a lower chance to show e' septal<7cm/s (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78-0.98, p=0.017) and SPAP>40mmHg (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.99, p=0.04) compared to those conducted in other months. Climate may affect hemodynamics according to echocardiographic assessment in ambulatory patients.
Journal: Journal of Applied Physiology (1985)