Urban-rural differences in the association between snowfall and mental disorder-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits in eastern China.

Mental disorders contribute substantially to the global burden of disease, which could be further amplified by harsh weather conditions. However, existing studies have largely focused on the effect of temperature change on mental health, while evidence regarding the potential association between snowfall and mental disorders in urban and rural areas is relatively limited. We collected daily data on mental disorder-related hospitalizations from three cities (Suzhou, Hefei, and Lu'an) and emergency department (ED) visits from Hefei, Anhui Province, eastern China, during the winter of 2016-2019.