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Physiological Equivalent Temperature and Hospitalized Due to Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases in Dezful, Iran Publisher



Aghababaeian H1, 2, 3 ; Sharafkhani R4 ; Mazaheri M5 ; Gharaee M6, 7 ; Nouri M8, 9 ; Hamidipour N10
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
  2. 2. Center for Climate Change and Health Research (CCCHR), Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
  3. 3. Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
  4. 4. School of Public Health, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. Climate Change and Health Research Center (CCHRC), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  8. 8. Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  9. 9. Spiritual Health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  10. 10. Department of Nursing, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran

Source: Heliyon Published:2025


Abstract

Background: The Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) index providing a standardized reference point, PET enables non-experts to better understand and assess the physiological implications of varying environmental temperatures and thermal comfort levels across different settings. We aimed to evaluate the relationships between the PET Index and Hospitalized due to Respiratory Diseases (RD) and Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) in Dezful city. Method: Hospital admissions, climate variables and environmental pollution data (PM2.5, PM10) of Dezful city were collected from 2014 to 2019. The relationships were assessed using Distributed Lag Non-linear Models (DLNM) in conjunction with quasi-Poisson regression methods. The effect of Confounding variables was adjusted. Result: In high PET, the risk of respiratory diseases has been significantly reduced (Lag 0-7 and Lag 0-14). Additionally, in the group of females and individuals <65 years old admitted to the hospital, the risk of respiratory admissions, as well as the risk of cardiovascular admissions among females, has also been significantly reduced. Additionally, in low PET, the risk of cardiovascular disease hospitalization (especially in male) increased significantly (Lag0-14). Discussion: It seems that in Dezful, low levels of PET increase the risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular patients, while due to certain factors, including the potential adaptive effect of the people of Dezful to heat on health, high levels of PET reduce the risk of hospitalization for all respiratory diseases and the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization in women. © 2025 The Authors