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Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 64. No. 3, 2025.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2025.64.03.21

The Association of Air Pollutants, Meteorological Parameters and Appearance of Venous Thromboembolism in the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Study

Aljoša Šikić ; Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia *
Dajana Deak ; Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Marijana Knezović Florijan ; University Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan, Zagreb, Croatia
Tena Bartolčić ; Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Brblić ; Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Neven Ljubičić ; Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

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Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the association between air pollution
and meteorological parameters with venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients admitted to the
Emergency Department of Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center from December 2010 to November
2015. Analyzed data included daily patient admissions, surface air temperature, relative humidity,
air pressure, and ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM10) concentrations
across 1,826 days. Of the 1,381 admitted VTE patients, 1,068 had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and
313 had pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT patients exhibited seasonal variations, peaking in winter and
spring (P = 0.034). NO2 and PM10 concentrations were highest in winter and lowest in summer. Lower
relative humidity correlated with VTE admissions in summer (P = 0.033), while higher relative humidity
correlated with PE admissions in spring (P = 0.005). Elevated NO2 was associated with VTE and DVT
admissions overall. Higher PM10 concentrations in spring correlated with VTE and DVT admissions.
Air pollution, even within legal limits, is associated with the number of VTE patients.

Keywords

air pollution; meteorological parameters; nitrogen dioxide; particulate matter; venous thromboembolism

Hrčak ID:

342947

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/342947

Publication date:

30.9.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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