Relationship Between Ambient Temperature and Humidity and Visits to Mental Health Emergency Departments in Québec

• DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201100485
• Publication Date: 2012-11-01T23:01:34Z
• Authors: Stephen Vida; Martin Durocher; Taha B. M. J. Ouarda; Pierre Gosselin
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Emergency Services, Psychiatric; Hot Temperature; Adolescent; Urban Population; Age Factors; Quebec; Humidity; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female; Poisson Distribution; Aged

Objective This study examined whether the number of emergency department visits for “mental and psychosocial problems” varies with temperature or humidity. Methods The in three geographic areas Québec were as a function humidity by using routinely collected May–September data 1995–2007 (N=347,552 visits). Data two age groups (under 65 older) examined. Incidence rate ratios mean estimated Poisson regression generalized additive models. Results tended to increase increasing temperature. At 22.5°C (72.5°F) 25°C (77.0°F), was usually significantly higher than average. Visits increased younger group. Conclusions suggest use departments mental problems humidity, especially metropolitan southern Québec. Climate change may make this effect increasingly important.