Spatiotemporal analysis of influenza, pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus in association with environmental factors: A systematic review.
Md Momin Islam, Farha Musharrat Noor, Vishal Singh et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review assessed studies using spatiotemporal models to examine environmental factors associated with influenza, pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Temperature and humidity were the most frequently identified environmental determinants, while Bayesian hierarchical models were the leading approach for accounting for spatial and temporal dependencies. Associations were often nonlinear and differed by location; area-level socioeconomic conditions modified local infection risk. The review concludes that environmental effects can be complex and delayed, supporting attention to local environmental and socioeconomic context in surveillance.
Key findings
- Twelve studies met the review’s inclusion criteria.
- Temperature and humidity were the most frequently identified environmental determinants.
- Bayesian hierarchical models were the leading framework for handling spatial and temporal dependencies.
- Environmental associations were often nonlinear and geographically variable, with area-level socioeconomic conditions influencing local infection risk.
Why it matters
Respiratory infection risk may not respond uniformly to environmental conditions across regions. The review highlights that local socioeconomic context can shape these associations, so broad averages may obscure meaningful differences. Incorporating local environmental characteristics and socioeconomic vulnerability into surveillance could help public health systems interpret and monitor risk across diverse areas.
What to keep in mind
The review included only twelve studies, and the abstract reports substantial variation in modelling approaches, climates, and geographic scales, limiting the consistency of comparisons.