Lower “felt” temperatures, measured through apparent temperature and windchill, appear to act as short-term environmental triggers for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Published in the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, this multicentre German study examined whether real-world thermal stress contributes to dissection onset.

The analysis included confirmed ATAAD cases from 1996 to 2016, with meteorological data retrieved for the two weeks preceding symptom onset. Short-term associations were evaluated using distributed lag non-linear models within a case-crossover design. Lower apparent temperature and elevated windchill were consistently linked to higher ATAAD odds, with the strongest effects observed three to four days before clinical presentation. Additional contributors included higher atmospheric pressure and low dew point, while lower humidity and minimal cloud cover were associated with reduced odds.

The findings highlight the importance of “felt” thermal stress in cardiovascular risk assessment and suggest that sudden cold conditions may warrant heightened vigilance in susceptible individuals.