Regional differences in the association between atmospheric pressure and Intensive Care Unit admissions in people with cardiovascular diseases in Germany: A Time Series Study

Background: Ageing populations are more vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Atmospheric pressure is linked to a wide range of CVDs and influences the intensive care units (ICUs) utilization in Germany. Methods: Daily ICU admissions of 16 intensive care-related entities in Germany were derived from AOK- Die Gesundheitskasse (AOK) insurance data from 2009 to 2023. Admissions were stratified by sex (male and female) and age (< 60 years, ≥ 60 years). The study area was divided into eleven human-bioclimatic regions. Generalized additive models were used to study the relationship between daily ICU admissions and lagged meteorological and air hygiene variables in each region. The focus was to examine the effects of sea level pressure (SLP) on ICU admissions due to CVDs. Results: The study illustrates the impact of SLP on CVDs in older subpopulations. 2.1 million people aged ≥ 60 years in Germany were admitted to ICU due to CVDs. SLP was a significant predictor (p ≤ 0.05) for non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and tachycardia in the coastal and southwestern regions. Overall, a SLP drop of 10hPa was shown to significantly increase the risk of ICU admission, particularly among women and individuals residing in southwestern Germany. However, the greatest risk was found in men aged ≥ 60 years with tachycardia who lived at the coast (Relative Risk = 1.039; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.010–1.069, p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: A drop in SLP is a substantial risk factor for ICU admissions due to CVDs in Germany, and weather forecasts should routinely be consulted by medical facilities to avoid potential health consequences. Trial registration: This study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) under the registration number DRKS00034441, with registration being completed on December 17, 2024.