News
LOEWE-HABITAT - Study with the aim of developing a weather app for health risks

The new “CAPNETZ” study by Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Brenner, Prof. Dr. Bernd Schmeck and Ann-Christine Link, LOEWE-HABITAT, Philipps-Universität Marburg, shows the connection between disease risks and weather factors. The aim is to develop a warning app for smartphones. The study was published in the journal “Frontiers in Climate” (doi: 10.3389/fclim.2024.1475075 ).
Older people, COPD patients and people who are overweight have an increased risk of pneumonia. The Marburg research team is investigating the influence of these factors for the first time in the LOEWE research project HABITAT. The aim is to develop a personalized app that warns of health risks in a similar way to a weather app. The results of the analysis of 10,660 cases from the CAPNETZ study show that combinations of low temperatures, low air pressure and high air pollution significantly increase the risk. COPD sufferers and people with a high body mass index are particularly susceptible to the weather.
A risk factor was calculated for each of the groups mentioned, which helps people and facilities to better assess hazards. These results form the basis for an app that provides forecasts for three days and can be adapted to individual needs.
Original publication:
Brenner & Link et al, Impact of comorbidities and personal characteristics on weather-related risk for community-acquired pneumonia (2024), Frontiers in Climate, doi: 10.3389/fclim.2024.1475075
Further information:
LOEWE-project Habitat https://proloewe.de/de/loewe-vorhaben/nach-themen/habitat/
See also: https://proloewe.de/media/de-newsletter_a4_2024_3-es.pdf
“LOEWE-HABITAT IS RESEARCHING A SYSTEM TO WARN PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS OF HEALTH RISKS BASED ON WEATHER FORECASTS"