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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Associations of meteorological factors and obesity on pediatric asthma hospitalization
Xuan Ngoc Tran1, Yueh-Lun Lee2, Yuan-Chien Lin3
1International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Insights
Overweight children with asthma face higher hospitalization risks due to high temperatures. Humidity, however, showed a protective effect, suggesting body weight and weather are key in managing pediatric asthma.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Pediatric asthma exacerbations are linked to meteorological factors and obesity.
- The vulnerability of overweight/obese children to meteorological stressors in asthma remains unclear.
- This study investigated the combined impact of weather and body weight on pediatric asthma hospitalizations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between meteorological factors (temperature, humidity) and pediatric asthma hospitalization.
- To determine if overweight/obese children are more susceptible to these meteorological factors.
- To inform pediatric asthma management strategies by considering body weight and environmental influences.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 6956 pediatric asthma patients (1060 cases, 5896 controls).
- Exposure to relative humidity (RH) and temperature assessed using radial basis function interpolation at 1-day, 7-day, and 1-month intervals.
- Logistic regression models analyzed associations and interactions between meteorological conditions and hospitalization, stratified by body weight (normal vs. overweight/obese).
Main Results:
- Increased 1-month mean relative humidity (RH) was associated with an 8% decrease in hospitalization odds (OR: 0.92).
- Higher mean temperatures, particularly in overweight/obese children, significantly increased hospitalization odds: 42% (1-day), 39% (7-day), and 44% (1-month).
- Overweight/obesity status amplified the risk associated with elevated temperatures compared to normal-weight children.
Conclusions:
- Higher RH demonstrated a protective effect against asthma-related hospitalizations.
- Elevated temperatures, especially when combined with overweight/obesity, significantly increased hospitalization risk in children with asthma.
- Findings underscore the importance of integrating body weight status and meteorological factors into pediatric asthma management plans.
Background:
Meteorological factors and obesity are linked to pediatric asthma exacerbations, but it remains unclear whether overweight/ obese children are more vulnerable to these meteorological stressors. This study examined the associations of meteorological factors and obesity on pediatric asthma hospitalization.
Methods:
This case-control study included 6956 pediatric asthma patients, with 1060 cases (at least one asthma-related hospitalization), and 5896 controls (no hospitalizations). Individual exposures to relative humidity (RH) and temperature were estimated using radial basis function interpolation at 1-day, 7-day, and 1-month intervals. Logistic regression models evaluated the associations between meteorological conditions and hospitalization, while also analyzing interactions with body weight (normal versus overweight/obese).
Results:
A 1% increase in 1-month mean RH was associated with 8% decrease in the odds ratio (OR) for hospitalization (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.99). Higher mean temperature, together with overweight/obesity, was associated with increased ORs for hospitalization: 42% (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04-1.93) over 1 day, 39% (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.01-1.94) over 7 days, and 44% (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.01-2.03) over 1 month.
Conclusion:
Higher RH was protective against hospitalization, whereas elevated temperatures with overweight/obesity increased hospitalization. These findings indicate that meteorological conditions with body weight are important considerations in pediatric asthma management.
Impact:
Higher mean temperature, together with overweight or obesity, was associated with an increased odds ratio for hospitalization compared to the normal-weight group. It provides new evidence that asthmatic children with overweight or obesity are more susceptible to environmental stressors than normal-weight group. This study highlights the need to consider both body weight and meteorological factors, specifically temperature and humidity, in pediatric asthma management. Category of study: Clinical study.
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