The influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review
BackgroundWeather can independently affect the occurrence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in urban areas. Built environments of cities could further modify exposure to weather and consequently the risk of RTIs, but their combined effects on infections are not known.ObjectivesOur aim was to sy...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1487125/full |
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| author | Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu Timo T. Hugg Timo T. Hugg Jouni J. K. Jaakkola Jouni J. K. Jaakkola Tiina M. Ikäheimo Tiina M. Ikäheimo Tiina M. Ikäheimo |
| author_facet | Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu Timo T. Hugg Timo T. Hugg Jouni J. K. Jaakkola Jouni J. K. Jaakkola Tiina M. Ikäheimo Tiina M. Ikäheimo Tiina M. Ikäheimo |
| author_sort | Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundWeather can independently affect the occurrence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in urban areas. Built environments of cities could further modify exposure to weather and consequently the risk of RTIs, but their combined effects on infections are not known.ObjectivesOur aim was to synthesize evidence of the influence of weather on RTIs in urban areas and to examine whether urban built environments are associated with both weather and RTIs.MethodsA systematic search of Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases was conducted on 9th of August 2022 following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included in the review based on predefined criteria by screening 5,789 articles and reviewing reference lists of relevant studies. The quality of the studies was assessed using the AXIS appraisal tool, and the results analyzed by narrative synthesis.ResultsTwenty-one eligible studies focusing on COVID-19 and influenza transmissions, were included in the review. All studies were register based ecological studies by design. Low temperature (11/19 studies) was most often associated with increased risk of RTI. Humidity showed either negative (5/14 studies), positive (3/14 studies) or no (6/14 studies) relation with RTIs. The association between wind and solar radiation on infections was inconclusive. Population density was positively associated with RTIs (14/15 studies).ConclusionsOur review shows that exposure to low temperature increases the occurrence of RTIs in urban areas, and where also high population density increases the infection risk. The study highlights the need to further assess the relationship between built environment characteristics, weather, and RTIs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e5e067948166450d8c05efbb566ffd8f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e5e067948166450d8c05efbb566ffd8f2025-02-10T16:17:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-02-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14871251487125The influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic reviewHenna Hyrkäs-Palmu0Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu1Timo T. Hugg2Timo T. Hugg3Jouni J. K. Jaakkola4Jouni J. K. Jaakkola5Tiina M. Ikäheimo6Tiina M. Ikäheimo7Tiina M. Ikäheimo8Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandMedical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, FinlandCenter for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandMedical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, FinlandCenter for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandMedical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, FinlandCenter for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, Research Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandMedical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, FinlandDepartment of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayBackgroundWeather can independently affect the occurrence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in urban areas. Built environments of cities could further modify exposure to weather and consequently the risk of RTIs, but their combined effects on infections are not known.ObjectivesOur aim was to synthesize evidence of the influence of weather on RTIs in urban areas and to examine whether urban built environments are associated with both weather and RTIs.MethodsA systematic search of Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases was conducted on 9th of August 2022 following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included in the review based on predefined criteria by screening 5,789 articles and reviewing reference lists of relevant studies. The quality of the studies was assessed using the AXIS appraisal tool, and the results analyzed by narrative synthesis.ResultsTwenty-one eligible studies focusing on COVID-19 and influenza transmissions, were included in the review. All studies were register based ecological studies by design. Low temperature (11/19 studies) was most often associated with increased risk of RTI. Humidity showed either negative (5/14 studies), positive (3/14 studies) or no (6/14 studies) relation with RTIs. The association between wind and solar radiation on infections was inconclusive. Population density was positively associated with RTIs (14/15 studies).ConclusionsOur review shows that exposure to low temperature increases the occurrence of RTIs in urban areas, and where also high population density increases the infection risk. The study highlights the need to further assess the relationship between built environment characteristics, weather, and RTIs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1487125/fullrespiratory tract infectiontemperatureweatherurban built environmentpopulation density |
| spellingShingle | Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu Henna Hyrkäs-Palmu Timo T. Hugg Timo T. Hugg Jouni J. K. Jaakkola Jouni J. K. Jaakkola Tiina M. Ikäheimo Tiina M. Ikäheimo Tiina M. Ikäheimo The influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review Frontiers in Public Health respiratory tract infection temperature weather urban built environment population density |
| title | The influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review |
| title_full | The influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | The influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review |
| title_short | The influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review |
| title_sort | influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections a systematic review |
| topic | respiratory tract infection temperature weather urban built environment population density |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1487125/full |
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