The influence of weather and urban environment characteristics on upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Weather can independently affect the occurrence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in urban areas. Built environments of cities could further modify exposure to weather and consequently the risk of RTIs, but their combined effects on infections are not known.

Objectives: Our aim was to synthesize evidence of the influence of weather on RTIs in urban areas and to examine whether urban built environments are associated with both weather and RTIs.

Methods: A systematic search of Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases was conducted on 9th of August 2022 following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included in the review based on predefined criteria by screening 5,789 articles and reviewing reference lists of relevant studies. The quality of the studies was assessed using the AXIS appraisal tool, and the results analyzed by narrative synthesis.

Results: Twenty-one eligible studies focusing on COVID-19 and influenza transmissions, were included in the review. All studies were register based ecological studies by design. Low temperature (11/19 studies) was most often associated with increased risk of RTI. Humidity showed either negative (5/14 studies), positive (3/14 studies) or no (6/14 studies) relation with RTIs. The association between wind and solar radiation on infections was inconclusive. Population density was positively associated with RTIs (14/15 studies).

Conclusions: Our review shows that exposure to low temperature increases the occurrence of RTIs in urban areas, and where also high population density increases the infection risk. The study highlights the need to further assess the relationship between built environment characteristics, weather, and RTIs.

Keywords: population density; respiratory tract infection; temperature; urban built environment; weather.

Figure 1

Study selection flow diagram.

Figure 2

Suggested framework for environmental factors influencing the occurrence of RTIs. The factors included in the systematic review are presented as boxes with a solid line and those from which empirical findings are lacking in the systematic review as boxes with a dashed line. The level of evidence is presented as ++ (several studies showing consistent findings), + (a few studies showing consistent findings), ± (studies show inconsistent results).