Table 2.

Selection of factors contributing to the core statistical model

Response	Core model (Hobart) HS predictors	Equivocal (0.05<p<0.10)	NS
Asthma	ICD, DoW, month, year	RelHum	Epiind, Temp, Press, Wind run
Bronchs	ICD, month, year	DoW, Epiind	Temp, Press, RelHum, Wind run
COPD	ICD, DoW, month, year		Epiind, Temp, Press, RelHum, Wind run

ICD, Epiind: indicators for the disease coding change and an apparent episode of an epidemic; Month, Year: temporal factors; Wind run: a measure of wind speed.

Bronchs, bronchitis/bronchiolitis; DoW: day of week; HS, significant; ICD, International Classification of Diseases; NS, not significant; Press, air pressure; RelHum, relative humidity; Temp, mean air temperature.