High ambient temperature increases the number of emergency visits for upper urolithiasis in Hefei City, China
Haoxiang Sun,
Xiaosong Wang,
Xiaoyu Zhang,
Linlin Wang,
Min Tao,
Ying Wang,
Jidan Yang,
Yuting Lei,
Changqing Jin,
Shuang Zhao,
Yue Hu,
Huaqing Hu
Affiliations
Haoxiang Sun
Department of General Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Xiaosong Wang
Outpatient Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Xiaoyu Zhang
Department of Health Management Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Linlin Wang
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China
Min Tao
Information Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Ying Wang
Department of General Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Jidan Yang
Department of General Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Yuting Lei
Department of Health Management Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Changqing Jin
Department of Health Management Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Shuang Zhao
Outpatient Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Yue Hu
Outpatient Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China
Huaqing Hu
Department of General Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China; Outpatient Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China; Corresponding author. Outpatient Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230022, China.
Background: Few studies have examined the effect of ambient temperature on upper urolithiasis in developing countries, with even fewer considering individual factors. Methods: The present study analyzed data on emergency department visits for upper urolithiasis from three hospital sites of a large hospital in Hefei, China, during 2016–2020. Data on environmental factors during the same period were also analyzed. A time series analysis employing a generalized Poisson regression model (GPRM) combined with a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was conducted to evaluate the effect of ambient temperature on the number of emergency department visits for upper urolithiasis. Results: We found that ambient temperatures above 9 °C were positively associated with the frequency of upper urolithiasis visits, with the relationship being most significant on the current day and with a one-day lag. In the single-day lag effect, the most significant relative risk (RR) for mild heat (75th percentile) and high heat (95th percentile) was 1.229 (95% CI: 1.100–1.373) and 1.337 (95% CI: 1.134–1.577), respectively. The cumulative lag effect was significantly higher than the single-day lag effect, with maximum relative risks (RRs) of 1.779 (95% CI: 1.356–2.335) and 2.498 (95% CI: 1.688–3.697), respectively. The maximum lag time was 7 days. RRs were also higher among women and individuals aged 30–44 years. Conclusions: Increased ambient temperature is a risk factor for upper urolithiasis, and there is a hysteresis effect. Women and individuals aged 30–44 years are the most susceptible.
