Identification of Global Meteorological Factors in the Incidence of Acute Heart Failure

• Activity Number: 422
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: SSC
• Author(s): Jeffrey Alexander Bakal*+ and Paul W. Armstrong and Cynthia M. Westerhout and Justin A. Ezekowitz
• Companies: Canadian VIGOUR Centre and Canadian VIGOUR Centre and Canadian VIGOUR Centre and University of Alberta
• Keywords: Heart Failure ; Environment ; weather ; validation ; outcomes

Abstract

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a major public health burden resulting in mortality and several million hospitalizations worldwide every year. Although meterological issues are thought relevant to ADHF events, no global studies identifying correlates of weather conditions and ADHF hospitalization exist. Additionally, there is interest in the identification of weather conditions predictive of adverse outcomes. We present considerations in the identification and validation of factors. Using preliminary data from a clinical trial conducted at 452 locations in 28 countries we consider global, seasonal and daily variability of weather conditions within 30 days of the acute event. These data inform an evaluation of methods of standardizing specific weather patterns against the regional climate, as well as the identification of relevant temporal windows around ADHF event.