Correlation between meteorological changes and primary spontaneous pneumothorax: Myth or fact?

Background: This study aims to investigate the relationship between meteorological changes and the development of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Methods: Medical records of 1,097 patients ( 975 males, 122 females; mean age 23.5±4.2 years; range, 17 to 32 years) admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of primary spontaneous pneumothorax between January 2010 and January 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. Daily mean values for air temperature, wind speed, humidity rate and atmospheric pressure values obtained from the local meteorological observatory were recorded. The four-year study period was separated into two groups as days with at least one primary spontaneous pneumothorax development (group 1) and days without any primary spontaneous pneumothorax development (group 2).

Results: Within the study period of a total of 1,461 days, 1,097 cases were recorded in 759 days during which primary spontaneous pneumothorax was observed. Eighty-nine percent of the patients were male. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of mean air temperature, humidity rate, and wind speed. Atmospheric pressure was significantly lower in group 1 (p<0.001). Decrease in atmospheric pressure with respect to the previous day increased the risk of primary spontaneous pneumothorax development significantly (p<0.001).

Conclusion: In our study, low atmospheric pressure and significant pressure decreases showed a strong correlation with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Temperature, wind speed, and humidity values did not influence primary spontaneous pneumothorax development.