Investigation of the influence of ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure and water vapour pressure on epistaxis admission rate.

BACKGROUND

To investigate the relationship between weather variables (atmospheric pressure, temperature, water vapour pressure) and epistaxis admission rates at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, United Kingdom.

METHODOLOGY

Retrospective observational study using hospital inpatient information databases to identify all patients admitted with epistaxis from April 1999 to March 2009 inclusive. Meteorological data for the same period was retrieved from the University of Plymouth Meteorological Archive. Epistaxis admissions were investigated for correlation with weather variables using Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

During the study period there were 1071 admissions (978 patients) (501 males (mean age 64 years) and 477 females (mean age 72 years)). Less than 10% of the variance in epistaxis admissions is explained by the maximum temperature only. Temperature and water vapour pressure demonstrated statistically significant association with epistaxis admission rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Though there is statistical significance in the association of some weather variables and epistaxis admission rates, the findings are not practically relevant (<10% variance). The results of this study do not indicate a need for revision of current healthcare resource allocation.