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The effect of weather variability on pediatric asthma admissions in Athens, Greece

Panagiotis T Nastos1, Athanasios G Paliatsos, Marios Papadopoulos

  • 1Laboratory of Climatology and Atmospheric Environment, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, University of Athens, Greece.

The Journal of Asthma : Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
|February 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Weather variability impacts childhood asthma admissions in Athens, Greece. Increased cooling power and wind speed correlate with more hospitalizations, especially in younger children (0-4 years).

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Biostatistics

Background:

  • Asthma is a significant pediatric respiratory illness.
  • Understanding environmental triggers for asthma exacerbations is crucial for public health.
  • Previous research suggests links between meteorological factors and respiratory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between weather variability and asthma hospital admissions in children.
  • To identify specific meteorological parameters influencing childhood asthma exacerbations in Athens, Greece.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized hospital registry data from three major Children's Hospitals in Athens (1978-2000).
  • Analyzed data for two pediatric age groups: 0-4 years and 5-14 years.
  • Applied Generalized Linear Models with Poisson distribution to assess correlations.

Main Results:

  • A significant relationship was found between weather parameters and asthma hospitalizations, particularly in children aged 0-4 years.
  • Negative correlations observed with discomfort index, air temperature, and absolute humidity.
  • Positive correlations identified with cooling power, relative humidity, and wind speed.

Conclusions:

  • Weather variability is a significant factor in childhood asthma admissions in Athens.
  • Specific weather conditions, such as high cooling power and wind speed, are associated with increased asthma hospitalizations.
  • Findings highlight the need for public health strategies to mitigate weather-related asthma risks in children.

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