Influence of atmospheric pressure on the incidence of spontaneous pneumothorax.

Abstract Background This study analyses the relationship between the incidence of idiopathic spontaneous pneumothorax (ISP) and atmospheric pressure (AP). Methods A total of 288 cases of ISP were included, 229 men and 59 women. The AP of the day of diagnosis, of the 3 prior days and the monthly average were registered. The association between the incidence of ISP and AP was analyzed by calculating standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and Poisson regression. Results The AP on the day of admission (mean±standard deviation) (1017.9±7 hectopascals [hPa]) was higher than the monthly average AP (1016.9±4.1 hPa) ( P =.005). There was a monthly distribution pattern of ISP with the highest incidence in the months of January, February and September and the lowest in April. When AP was less than 1014 hPa, there were fewer cases registered than what would statistically have been expected (58/72 cases). In contrast, when the pressure was higher than 1019 hPa, the registered cases were more than expected (109/82 cases) (SIR=1.25; 95% CI: 1.04–1.51). The risk of ISP increased 1.15 times (95% CI: 1.05–1.25, P =.001) for each hPa of AP, regardless of gender, age and monthly average AP. A dose–response relationship was observed, with progressive increases in risk (IRR=1.06 when the AP was 1014–1016 hPa; 1.17 hPa when the AP was 1016–1019 hPa and 1.69 when the AP was superior to 1019 hPa) ( P for trend=.089). Conclusion AP is a risk factor for the onset of idiopathic spontaneous pneumothorax.