Association between ambient temperature variability and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in cold regions, China: A time-series analysis
doi: 10.1515/fzm-2026-0007
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Abstract:
Objective This study investigated the impact of daily ambient temperature and temperature changes between neighboring days (TCN) on the risk of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in cold regions using a time-series approach. Methods From January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020, STEMI cases were collected from the largest medical center in Heilongjiang Province, excluding patients with incomplete data or unclear symptom onset times. Meteorological variables and air pollutant data corresponding to patients' residential address were matched from nearby monitoring stations. A distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) with a lag period of 0-21 days was applied to assess the effects of suboptimal temperatures on STEMI risk and lag structures. Different temperature indicators (maximum, mean, minimum, and TCN) were compared, and subgroup analyses by sex and age were performed to evaluate population-specific susceptibility. Results A total of 1461 days were included, comprising 4700 STEMI cases. Cold exposure was associated with a significant increase in STEMI incidence, with a delayed onset of 3 days and a prolonged effect lasting up to 20 days. In contrast, the heat effect was immediate and persisted for approximately 3 days. In the 21-day cumulative relative risk (CRR) analysis, using a median temperature of 6.6 ℃, the minimum morbidity temperature was identified at 17 ℃ (CRR 0.709, 95% CI 0.345-1.457). Notably, the highest incidence did not occur at the lowest temperature (-29 ℃, CRR 1.201, 95% CI 0.273-5.273). Instead, STEMI risk increased as temperatures rose from extreme cold, reaching a peak at -10 ℃ (CRR 1.63, 95% CI 0.905-2.936). Under conditions of extreme cooling (TCN = -11 ℃), STEMI risk increased from lag 0 to 7 (relative risk [RR] 2.239, 95% CI 0.279-17.936). Conclusions In cold regions, extreme temperatures, especially sustained cold exposure, significantly increase the risk of STEMI. Rapid temperature drops between consecutive days further elevate incidence, highlighting the importance of both absolute temperature and short-term temperature variability in cardiovascular risk. -
Figure 3. Cumulative relative risk of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) incidence across different temperature indicators in the overall population
(A) Tmean. (B) Tmax. (C) Tmin. (D) TCN. CRR, cumulative relative risk. The blue line represents the estimated relative risk, and the gray shaded area indicates the 95% confidence interval.
Figure 4. Lag-response relationship between mean temperature (Tmean) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) incidence in the overall population
(A) The relative risk of STEMI after lag 2 days at the average temperature level. (B) The relative risk of having a STEMI at average temperatures of -29 ℃ over the same range of lag days. (C) The relative risk of STEMI after lag 7 days at the average temperature level. (D) The relative risk of having a STEMI at average temperatures of -12 ℃ over the same range of lag days. (E) The relative risk of STEMI after lag 10 days at the average temperature level. (F) The relative risk of having a STEMI at average temperatures of 6 ℃ over the same range of lag days. (G) The relative risk of STEMI after lag 20 days at the average temperature levely. (H) The relative risk of having a STEMI at average temperatures of 30 ℃ over the same range of lag days. RR, relative risk.
Table 1. Descriptive statistics of daily meteorological variables and air pollutant concentrations in Harbin, China (2017-2020)
Variable Mean SD Min Q1 Median Q3 Max Tmean (℃) 5.16 15.21 -29.38 -9.41 7.25 18.80 30.43 Tmax (℃) 9.58 15.09 -24.20 -4.80 12.70 23.20 36.80 Tmin (℃) 0.52 15.69 -33.40 -14.40 2.20 14.90 27.20 TCN (℃) 0 3.60 -16.66 -1.96 0.15 2.18 16.54 AP (kPa) 101.25 3.64 37.68 100.63 101.39 102.24 104.29 WS (m/s) 29.73 12.07 7.50 21.25 27.50 36.25 92.50 Td (℃) -1.52 15.10 -34.08 -14.66 -2.29 12.36 25.23 AQI 71.01 57.55 10.00 36.79 53.29 81.25 442.29 PM2.5 (μg/m3) 46.12 56.28 4.38 15.54 27.57 53.46 925.71 PM10 (μg/m3) 55.63 60.43 4.38 20.33 38.21 68.25 923.70 SO2 (μg/m3) 19.79 15.81 4.00 8.83 13.04 26.04 112.38 NO2 (μg/m3) 36.18 16.43 9.04 24.50 32.58 43.96 132.21 O3 (μg/m3) 55.28 24.95 7.50 35.43 52.75 69.58 179.79 CO (μg/m3) 0.84 0.41 0.36 0.57 0.70 0.95 3.72 AP, air pressure; WS, wind speed; Td, dew point temperature; AQI, air quality index; TCN, temperature changes between neighboring days; Mean, mean value; SD, standard deviation; Min, minimum value; Q1 and Q3, first and third quartiles (25th and 75th percentiles, respectively); Max, maximum value. Pollutant values represent daily average concentrations. -
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