Hong Kong Med J 2012;18(Suppl 2):S8-11
Effect of influenza on cardiorespiratory and all-cause mortality in Hong Kong, Singapore and Guangzhou
Hong Kong team: CM Wong, JSM Peiris, L Yang, KP Chan, TQ Thach, HK Lai, WWL Lim, AJ Hedley; Guangzhou team: J He, P Chen, C Ou, A Deng, X Zhang, D Zhou, S Ma, A Chow
Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
 
 
1. Using a common modelling approach, mortality attributable to influenza was higher in the two subtropical cities Guangzhou and Hong Kong than in the tropical city Singapore.
2. The virus activity appeared more synchronised in subtropical cities, whereas seasonality of influenza tended to be less marked in the tropical city.
3. High temperature was associated with increased mortality after influenza infection in Hong Kong, whereas relative humidity was an effect modifier for influenza in Guangzhou. No effect modification was found for Singapore.
4. Seasonal and environmental factors probably play a more important role than socioeconomic factors in regulating seasonality and disease burden of influenza. Further studies are needed in identifying the mechanism behind the regulatory role of environmental factors.