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The Effect of Ambient Environmental Conditions on COVID-19 Mortality: A Systematic Review

Author

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  • Karla Romero Starke

    (Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine (IPAS), Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
    Institute of Sociology, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology, Thüringer Weg 9, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany)

  • René Mauer

    (Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry (IMB), Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, 01307 Dresden, Germany)

  • Ethel Karskens

    (Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine (IPAS), Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany)

  • Anna Pretzsch

    (Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine (IPAS), Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany)

  • David Reissig

    (Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine (IPAS), Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany)

  • Albert Nienhaus

    (Department of Occupational Medicine, Toxic Substances and Health Research, Institution for Statutory Social Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health Care and Welfare Services (BGW), 22089 Hamburg, Germany
    Competence Centre for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), Institute for Health Service Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20251 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Anna Lene Seidler

    (NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Andreas Seidler

    (Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine (IPAS), Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany)

Abstract

Weather conditions may have an impact on SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission, as has been shown for seasonal influenza. Virus transmission most likely favors low temperature and low humidity conditions. This systematic review aimed to collect evidence on the impact of temperature and humidity on COVID-19 mortality. This review was registered with PROSPERO (registration no. CRD42020196055). We searched the Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane COVID-19 databases for observational epidemiological studies. Two independent reviewers screened the title/abstracts and full texts of the studies. Two reviewers also performed data extraction and quality assessment. From 5051 identified studies, 11 were included in the review. Although the results were inconsistent, most studies imply that a decrease in temperature and humidity contributes to an increase in mortality. To establish the association with greater certainty, future studies should consider accurate exposure measurements and important covariates, such as government lockdowns and population density, sufficient lag times, and non-linear associations.

Suggested Citation

  • Karla Romero Starke & René Mauer & Ethel Karskens & Anna Pretzsch & David Reissig & Albert Nienhaus & Anna Lene Seidler & Andreas Seidler, 2021. "The Effect of Ambient Environmental Conditions on COVID-19 Mortality: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6665-:d:578972
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karla Romero Starke & Marlen Kofahl & Alice Freiberg & Melanie Schubert & Mascha Luisa Groß & Stefanie Schmauder & Janice Hegewald & Daniel Kämpf & Johanna Stranzinger & Albert Nienhaus & Andreas Seid, 2019. "Are Daycare Workers at a Higher Risk of Parvovirus B19 Infection? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Hannah McClymont & Wenbiao Hu, 2021. "Weather Variability and COVID-19 Transmission: A Review of Recent Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Gabriela Petereit-Haack & Ulrich Bolm-Audorff & Karla Romero Starke & Andreas Seidler, 2020. "Occupational Risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma-Related Depression: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Karla Romero Starke & Gabriela Petereit-Haack & Melanie Schubert & Daniel Kämpf & Alexandra Schliebner & Janice Hegewald & Andreas Seidler, 2020. "The Age-Related Risk of Severe Outcomes Due to COVID-19 Infection: A Rapid Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-24, August.
    5. Ploutarchos Tzampoglou & Dimitrios Loukidis, 2020. "Investigation of the Importance of Climatic Factors in COVID-19 Worldwide Intensity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-25, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Johannes Burtscher & Gregoire P. Millet & Barbara Leitner & Martin Burtscher, 2022. "Health Benefits of Residence at Moderate Altitude Do Not Reduce COVID-19 Mortality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Godwin Attah Obande & Ahmad Ibrahim Bagudo & Suharni Mohamad & Zakuan Zainy Deris & Azian Harun & Chan Yean Yean & Ismail Aziah & Kirnpal Kaur Banga Singh, 2021. "Current State of COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: Lessons for Today and the Future," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, September.

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