Air pollutants and meteorological parameters: the association with the evolution of pneumonia in hospitalized patients

<bold>Introduction:</bold> The effect of meteorological events on various diseases has been investigated for a while. We aimed to investigate the relationship between meteorological parameters, recent exposure to air pollutants and the severity and the evolution of pneumonia. We conducted a retrospective study including the patients hospitalized for pneumonia in the department of pulmonology of the university hospital in Gabes, Tunisia in 2022. The severity of pneumonia was evaluated with two scores: the CRB65 and the PSI. Temperature, humidity and concentrations of air pollutants (PM10,SO2,O3) was provided by the national environmental protection agency. <bold>Results:</bold> We included 48 adult patients. Mean age was 63,79years. Early complications were observed in 26 patients. The temperature raise one day and two days before the development of the symptoms was significantly associated to the initial severity of the pneumonia (judged by the two scores) and the duration of hospitalisation. We found a positive correlation between higher level of humidity one day, two days and three days before the symptoms and the initial severity. No significant association was found between the meteorological parameters and early complications. A significant association was found between the mean level of SO2, in the month before the symptoms, and the PSI score. The early outcomes were influenced by the level of PM10,in the month precedent the symptoms. The duration of hospitalisation was significantly influenced by the level of O3 one day before the symptoms. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> In our study, climatic and environmental factors were to be found effective in the severity and evolution of pneumonia in hospitalized patients.