Influence of meteorological variables on the frequency of visits and hospital admission for epistaxis in a city with a cold semi-arid climate (Lorca, Spain)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Epistaxis is a common emergency for otorhinolaryngologists. Although the aetiological factors have been widely studied, they remain subject to debate. The role of meteorological variables has been discussed in recent years, but results have been inconsistent. Given a lack of prior data, the aim of our study was to identify the meteorological variables that influence the frequency of visits and hospital admission for epistaxis in a city with a cold semi-arid climate in Spain.

METHODS

Case-control study.

CASES

patients who attended the accident and emergency department of a secondary level hospital for epistaxis over a 9-year period (2011-2019). Controls were established by simple random sampling among emergency rooms visits in general (patients who attended the same centre over the same period of time). Sociodemographic, clinical and meteorological variables were all taken into account.

RESULTS

2749 patients in the epistaxis group and 2764 in the control group. There were significant differences in the epistaxis group, with a higher proportion of male (62.85%) and older patients. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that the daily minimum temperature and maximum wind speed were factors significantly associated with the onset of epistaxis. In addition, logistic regression analysis showed that decreases in minimum temperature and increases in maximum wind speed were associated with an increase in epistaxis (p < 0.01). No association was found between hospital admission and the weather conditions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that low minimum temperatures and high wind speeds are associated with the number of visits to hospital accident and emergency departments for epistaxis, but not with hospital admission.

Evaluation of Nasal Obstruction Following Septoturbinoplasty Using the VAS and NOSE Scale

Introduction

Patient satisfaction with septoturbinoplasty was measured using the subjective visual analogue scale (VAS) and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale. In addition, those factors that impacted satisfaction were confirmed.

Materials and Methods

We conducted an observational study of patients who underwent septoturbinoplasty. Age, sex, smoking habit, duration of improvement, postoperative complications, type of packing and surgeon were analysed. The results were compared using the VAS and NOSE scale.

Results

The improvement experienced with surgery corresponded to 69.80±26.97 points on the VAS 42.65±22.9 points (p <0.01) on the NOSE scale. A strong, direct correlation between the two scales (r = 0.79; p <0.01) was achieved. Surgeon, presence of complications, smoking habit and type of packing were not associated with the improvement experienced on the VAS or NOSE scale. Patients under 30 years of age and patients with permanent improvement achieved higher levels of satisfaction on both scales (p <0.01). Women showed a stronger tendency to perceive their improvement as temporary (p <0.01).

Conclusions

Patients who underwent septoturbinoplasty experienced a subjectively measured improvement in nasal obstruction. The VAS and the NOSE scale were strongly correlated with one another. Sex, age and duration of improvement (temporary versus permanent) impacted patient perception; surgeon, smoking habit and type of packing did not.