Relationship between meteorological factors and the incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Although meteorological factors are connected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) incidence, available findings have been inconsistent. This study was performed to systematically evaluate the correlation between meteorological factors and SFTS incidence.

Methods: We performed a thorough literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases from databases initiatives to November 30, 2024. Literature was searched for correlation between meteorological factors and SFTS incidence. Two researchers screened the retrieved literature based on exclusion and inclusion criteria. Finally, data extraction and quality evaluation were carried out for the included literature, and meta-analysis was executed applying the R package (4.4.1).

Results: A total of 404 relevant literature were retrieved, and 12 studies were enrolled in the meta-analysis. Both average temperature (r=0.73, 95%CI 0.63-0.81, P<0.001), average relative humidity (r=0.46, 95%CI 0.32-0.57, P < 0.001), cumulative precipitation (r=0.49, 95%CI 0.33-0.62, P < 0.001), average precipitation (r=0.48, 95%CI 0.21-0.68, P < 0.001), and sunlight (r=0.34, 95%CI 0.11-0.53, P < 0.01) were positively correlated with SFTS incidence. The average atmospheric pressure was negatively correlated with SFTS incidence (r= -0.69, 95%CI -0.78- -0.59, P < 0.001), and the average wind speed was not significantly correlated with SFTS incidence (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Factors such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, sunshine duration, and atmospheric pressure are related to the incidence of SFTS with a certain lag effect. Future studies on the relationship between meteorological factors and the incidence of SFTS should fully consider human activities and environmental factors, and explore the pathogenesis and transmission mechanisms in greater depth, so as to provide targeted preventive measures.

Clinical Trial Number: Not applicable.