Original scientific paper
Ambient temperature, seasonal variations, and blood pressure. Preliminary results from the EHUH 2 study
Anamarija Vukšić
Jagoda Nikić
Ana Jelaković
Ana Stupin
Iva Abramović
Darija Baković
Mihaela Marinović Glavić
Goran Gajski
Lidija Srnec
Ivana Herceg Bulić
Marija Domislović
Josipa Josipović
Lovorka Bilajac
Andrej Belančić
Željko Reiner
Ivan Pećin
Bojan Jelaković
Abstract
Introduction: Ambient temperature is an important determinant of blood pressure variability, although previous findings have been inconsistent. This analysis aimed to investigate the association between ambient temperature, seasonal variation, and blood pressure in the adult Croatian population.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 1645 participants from the EH-UH 2 study. Ambient temperature data were provided by the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service and linked to participants based on their place of residence and the date of blood pressure assessment. Blood pressure was measured according to European Society of Hypertension guidelines. Seasonal harmonic regression models and a temperature decomposition approach were used to assess the effects of short-term (within-day) and long-term (between-month) temperature variability on BP, with adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking status, and antihypertensive therapy use.
Results: Both short-term and long-term temperature components were independently associated with blood pressure values. Short-term increases in daily temperature were associated with higher systolic blood pressure values. A clear seasonal pattern was identified, with model-predicted blood pressure values peaking during January and February and reaching their lowest levels during July and August. Seasonal variability was more pronounced in coastal regions and among men aged over 50 years, in whom the peak-to-nadir difference in systolic blood pressure reached approximately 50 mmHg. Linear regression analyses demonstrated lower systolic blood pressure values with higher annual temperatures in inland regions, whereas positive associations between ambient temperature and diastolic blood pressure were predominantly observed in coastal regions.
Conclusions: Ambient temperature and seasonal variation were significantly associated with blood pressure in the Croatian adult population. These findings emphasize the importance of considering environmental factors in hypertension assessment and management.
Keywords
blood pressure; hypertension; ambient temperature; season; environmental exposure; seasonal variation
Hrčak ID:
348438
URI
Publication date:
25.6.2026.
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