Association of Thunderstorms with ED Visits for Respiratory Illness

Emergency department visits peaked in the days surrounding thunderstorms in a study of Medicare beneficiaries.

Thunderstorms have been associated with increased respiratory symptoms in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To explore this association in older patients (>65 years) with chronic respiratory illnesses, researchers utilized data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and compared it with Medicare insurance claims and comorbidity data from 1999 to 2012. Rates of emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory complaints were compared for days associated and not associated with thunderstorm events.

Of more than 46 million Medicare beneficiaries (mean age, 77), 10.5% had asthma, 26.5% had COPD, and 6.6% had both. During the study period, more than 22 million ED respiratory visits and 82…

Reviewing Author

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Association of Thunderstorms with ED Visits for Respiratory Illness

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Reviewing Author