PhD Scientific Days 2025

Cardiovascular Medicine and Research I.

Influence of extreme temperatures on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests cases in Hungary

Name of the presenter

Nagy Bettina

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center

Authors

Bettina Nagy¹, Ádám Pál-Jakab¹, Boldizsár Kiss¹, Prof. Endre Zima¹

1: Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) represent a critical public health challenge, with poor survival heavily influenced by various factors.
Aims: Our objective was to investigate the relationship between environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures, solar radiation, humidity, and the frequency of OHCA in Hungary from November 1, 2018, to April 25, 2022.
Methods: We conducted an analysis of 50,589 OHCA cases using data from the Hungarian National Ambulance Service and meteorological records. For analysis and visualization Poisson regression models were applied. Extreme temperatures were categorized by percentiles, and a generalized linear model was used to analyze the impact of weather conditions on OHCA incidence.
Results: OHCA incidents increased significantly during extreme cold (below 0°C) and extreme heat (above 25°C). Low relative humidity correlated with fewer, while high humidity led to more cases (p < 0.001). OHCA frequency increased notably on days with weather front compared to non-frontal days (p < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between precipitation and OHCA cases. Higher solar radiation was linked to fewer OHCA cases, whereas lower solar radiation correlated with increased case number (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: We identified significant associations between extreme temperatures, rapid temperature changes, and the incidence of OHCA. Higher solar radiation and temperatures were linked to fewer OHCA cases, whereas lower radiation and temperatures, along with high humidity, increased the incidence. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between environmental factors and OHCA, emphasizing the necessity for targeted public health strategies to mitigate the risk during extreme weather conditions.
Funding: SUPPORTED BY THE EKÖP-2024-138 NEW NATIONAL EXCELLENCE PROGRAM OF THE MINISTRY FOR CULTURE AND INNOVATION FROM THE SOURCE OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION FUND. Project realized within the National Multidisciplinary Laboratory for Climate RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00014.