[Linking information systems in the health service].

Various information systems have existed in the hygiene service for a number of years and the outputs of these systems are partially used. By interconnection (comprehensive evaluation) of these systems objective information on the relationship of various factors could be obtained. For the epidemic season 1985/86 (September-April) the outputs of information systems "Reports on acute respiratory diseases" (ARD), "Contamination of the atmosphere in the CSR", "Meteofond" were analyzed in a comprehensive way. The incidence of acute respiratory diseases, the sulphur dioxide concentration, the concentration of dust and nitrogen oxides in the air, the temperature and the moisture of the atmosphere were evaluated. The incidence of acute respiratory diseases, which markedly depends on the season, is recorded most accurately in the age group of 0-5 years. The most marked excesses of the incidence are associated as a rule with the circulation of the influenza virus in the population. The sulphur dioxide concentration is also dependent on the season, similarly as the concentration of dust and the temperature and moisture of the air assessed at 2 p.m. There are some identical features between the level of the incidence of acute respiratory diseases, the atmospheric concentration of the mentioned substances and values of the mentioned climatic factors in the course of the epidemic season of acute respiratory diseases. Causal relationships between the incidence of acute respiratory diseases and all mentioned factors must be, however, evaluated with great care.