Seasonal Patterns of Respiratory Disease Visits in Ontario
Author Information
Author(s): Moineddin Rahim, Nie Jason X, Domb Gabrielle, Leong Alan M, Upshur Ross EG
Primary Institution: University of Toronto
Hypothesis
What are the seasonal patterns in primary care visits for respiratory diseases in Ontario?
Conclusion
Primary care visits for respiratory diseases have clear predictable seasonal patterns, driven primarily by viral circulations.
Supporting Evidence
- Visits to primary care physicians for respiratory conditions increase threefold in winter compared to summer.
- Children aged 0-4 had the highest visit rates for respiratory diseases.
- Females had significantly more visits for respiratory diseases than males throughout the study period.
Takeaway
In winter, many more people visit the doctor for breathing problems than in summer, mostly because of viruses like the flu.
Methodology
A retrospective, cross-sectional time series analysis was conducted using data from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan database over a 10-year period.
Potential Biases
The use of a single diagnosis per visit may have led to underreporting of respiratory disease visits.
Limitations
The study relied on administrative data that may not have been originally collected for health research, leading to potential inaccuracies in diagnostic coding.
Participant Demographics
The study included patients of all ages, with a focus on young children and differences between genders.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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