Experts Warns; Cold Weather Bad For Heart Patients

Cold weather not just affects those with bones and joint pain, but it is equally bad for those ailing with heart problem.

A new research has found that cloudy weather and changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure can increase the risk of heart failure among the elderly.

"Our study shows that exposure to cold or high-pressure weather could trigger events leading to hospitalisation or death in heart failure patients," said Pierre Gosselin, lead author of the study from Universitie Laval in Canada.

During the study, 112,793 people aged 65 years and older who had been diagnosed with heart failure in Canada between 2001 and 2011 were assessed. The participants were followed for an average of 635 days.

The mean temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure and air pollutants in the surrounding environment were measured and monitored.

The results showed a higher risk of hospitalisation or death in the winter period of the year (October to April) compared to the summer period (May to September).

The researchers noticed that the risk of experiencing hospitalisation or death due to heart failure increased 0.7 percent for every one degree Celsius decrease in the mean temperature of the previous seven days.

They also found that the risk of heart failure incident increased by 4.5 per cent for each increase of one kPa (kilopascal) in atmospheric pressure.

A study was published recently in the journal, Environment International.

(With Agency Inputs)