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Published on: November 4, 2010
Changes in weather and the effects on pediatric asthma exacerbations
Nana Mireku1, Yun Wang, Joel Ager
1Division of Allergy and Immunology; Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Summary
Weather changes, specifically humidity and temperature fluctuations, significantly impact pediatric asthma exacerbations. Increased humidity or temperature leads to more emergency department visits for asthma within one to two days.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Climatology
Background:
- Pediatric asthma exacerbations are common, with potential links to weather patterns.
- The precise relationship between climatic factors and asthma exacerbations in children remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of daily fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure on pediatric asthma exacerbations.
- To quantify the association between specific weather changes and emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric asthma.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 25,401 pediatric asthma ED visits over two years.
- Time series analysis correlating daily climatic factors (temperature, humidity, barometric pressure) with asthma ED visits.
- Controlled for seasonality, air pollution, and aeroallergens, examining effects from T=0 to T-5 days.
Main Results:
- A 10% intraday humidity increase on days T-1 or T-2 correlated with additional asthma ED visits.
- Interday humidity changes from T-3 to T-2 also increased ED visits.
- A 10°F temperature increase from T-1 to T=0 was associated with 1.8 additional ED visits; barometric pressure showed no significant association.
Conclusions:
- Humidity and temperature fluctuations, not barometric pressure, are linked to pediatric asthma exacerbations.
- The impact of these climatic factors on asthma ED visits is observed one to two days post-fluctuation.
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