Publications by authors named "Rafal Skutecki"

Lipid disorders, especially hypercholesterolemia, are one of the most thoroughly investigated cardiovascular risk factors. Their correlation with biometeorological conditions has been reported, with authors stressing seasonal increases of total cholesterol (TC) levels, mostly occurring in winter. This study aims at determining the correlation between the level of lipid parameters (LP) and meteorological conditions, analyzing seasonal variations in LP levels, and attempting to answer the following questions: do changes in LP levels result from the organism's response to cold or heat stress, or are they secondary to seasonal dietary variations? An observational study comprised ambulatory patients from the city of Olsztyn (Poland), for whom laboratory test were performed in 2016-2018, with 106,325 records of TC, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides (TG).

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Article Synopsis
  • More than one-third of adults in developed countries have hypertension (HT), and studies suggest that blood pressure can be influenced by weather conditions like temperature and humidity.
  • The research aimed to explore the connection between Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) values and HT consultations in a cold climate region of Poland, analyzing over 5,500 emergency department visits.
  • Results showed a notable increase in HT consultations during winter, especially in women, with a higher risk associated with cold stress, suggesting that cold weather is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular issues, particularly for women.
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Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are one of the most frequent reasons for medical consultations. As air temperature decreases, but also in connection with other meteorological parameters, evident seasonal fluctuations in the number of consultations for RTI can be observed. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) is a complex meteorological index derived from an analysis of human thermal balance that depends on air temperature, air humidity, and wind speed.

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