Meteorological factors associated with exacerbation of the disease and reduced quality of life in patients with respiratory disease

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Our findings, in summer, were as follows: Firstly, daily minimum temperature (or daily average temperature) on previous day were associated with high wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT values of 28 degrees C or higher, i.e., level of extreme caution for heatstroke, proposed by Japanese Society of Biometeorology) during nighttime (from 0:00 to 6:00). Secondly, minimum WBGT values during nighttime were associated with an increased risk of having dyspnea in patients receiving long term oxygen therapy. Finally, case-crossover design showed no statistically significant association between COPD exacerbation and meteorological factors, because we had a small number of hospitalizations of study subjects for the exacerbation.