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Motlogeloa O, Fitchett JM. Climate and human health: a review of publication trends in the International Journal of Biometeorology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2023:10.1007/s00484-023-02466-8. [PMID: 37129619 PMCID: PMC10153057 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02466-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The climate-health nexus is well documented in the field of biometeorology. Since its inception, Biometeorology has in many ways become the umbrella under which much of this collaborative research has been conducted. Whilst a range of review papers have considered the development of biometeorological research and its coverage in this journal, and a few have reviewed the literature on specific diseases, none have focused on the sub-field of climate and health as a whole. Since its first issue in 1957, the International Journal of Biometeorology has published a total of 2183 papers that broadly consider human health and its relationship with climate. In this review, we identify a total of 180 (8.3%, n = 2183) of these papers that specifically focus on the intersection between meteorological variables and specific, named diagnosable diseases, and explore the publication trends thereof. The number of publications on climate and health in the journal increases considerably since 2011. The largest number of publications on the topic was in 2017 (18) followed by 2021 (17). Of the 180 studies conducted, respiratory diseases accounted for 37.2% of the publications, cardiovascular disease 17%, and cerebrovascular disease 11.1%. The literature on climate and health in the journal is dominated by studies from the global North, with a particular focus on Asia and Europe. Only 2.2% and 8.3% of these studies explore empirical evidence from the African continent and South America respectively. These findings highlight the importance of continued research on climate and human health, especially in low- and lower-middle-income countries, the populations of which are more vulnerable to climate-sensitive illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ogone Motlogeloa
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jennifer M Fitchett
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Han L, Ran J, Chan KH, Mak YW, Suen L, Cowling BJ, Yang L. Indoor Environmental Factors and Acute Respiratory Illness in a Prospective Cohort of Community-Dwelling Older Adults. J Infect Dis 2021; 222:967-978. [PMID: 32297941 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ambient environmental factors have been associated with respiratory infections in ecological studies, but few studies have explored the impact of indoor environmental factors in detail. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of indoor environment on the risk of acute respiratory illness (ARI) in a subtropical city. METHOD A prospective cohort study was conducted in 285 community-dwelling older adults from December 2016 through May 2019. Individual household indoor environment data and ARI incidence were continuously collected. A time-stratified case-crossover analysis was conducted to estimate the excess risk of ARI associated with per-unit increase of daily mean indoor temperature, relative humidity, and absolute humidity (AH). RESULT In total, 168 episodes of ARI were reported with an average risk of 36.8% per year. We observed a negative association of ARI with indoor AH up to 5 lag days in cool seasons, with a 6-day cumulative excess risk estimate of -9.0% (95% confidence interval, -15.9% to -1.5%). Negative associations between household temperature or relative humidity and ARI were less consistent across warm and cool seasons. CONCLUSIONS Lower indoor AH in household was associated with a higher risk of ARI in the community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong during cold seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lefei Han
- School of Nursing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjun Ran
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Kwok-Hung Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yim-Wah Mak
- School of Nursing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Lorna Suen
- School of Nursing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Benjamin John Cowling
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Yang
- School of Nursing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
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Suntronwong N, Vichaiwattana P, Klinfueng S, Korkong S, Thongmee T, Vongpunsawad S, Poovorawan Y. Climate factors influence seasonal influenza activity in Bangkok, Thailand. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239729. [PMID: 32991630 PMCID: PMC7523966 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Yearly increase in influenza activity is associated with cold and dry winter in the temperate regions, while influenza patterns in tropical countries vary significantly by regional climates and geographic locations. To examine the association between influenza activity in Thailand and local climate factors including temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall, we analyzed the influenza surveillance data from January 2010 to December 2018 obtained from a large private hospital in Bangkok. We found that approximately one in five influenza-like illness samples (21.6% or 6,678/30,852) tested positive for influenza virus. Influenza virus typing showed that 34.2% were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 46.0% were influenza A(H3N2), and 19.8% were influenza B virus. There were two seasonal waves of increased influenza activity. Peak influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 activity occurred in February and again in August, while influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses were primarily detected in August and September. Time series analysis suggests that increased relative humidity was significantly associated with increased influenza activity in Bangkok. Months with peak influenza activity generally followed the most humid months of the year. We performed the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) multivariate analysis of all influenza activity on the 2011 to 2017 data to predict the influenza activity for 2018. The resulting model closely resembled the actual observed overall influenza detected that year. Consequently, the ability to predict seasonal pattern of influenza in a large tropical city such as Bangkok may enable better public health planning and underscores the importance of annual influenza vaccination prior to the rainy season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nungruthai Suntronwong
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Preeyaporn Vichaiwattana
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sirapa Klinfueng
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sumeth Korkong
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanunrat Thongmee
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sompong Vongpunsawad
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yong Poovorawan
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Cantone E, Gamerra M. The Biometeorology of COVID-19: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy? ACTA MEDICA (HRADEC KRALOVE) 2020; 63:202-204. [PMID: 33355083 DOI: 10.14712/18059694.2020.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Cantone
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences - ENT section, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
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Tham S, Thompson R, Landeg O, Murray KA, Waite T. Indoor temperature and health: a global systematic review. Public Health 2019; 179:9-17. [PMID: 31707154 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to identify and appraise evidence on the direct and indirect impacts of high indoor temperatures on health; the indoor temperature threshold at which the identified health impacts are observed; and to summarise the evidence for establishing a maximum indoor temperature threshold for health. STUDY DESIGN This is a systematic literature review and narrative synthesis. METHODS A review of the published literature using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, PsycINFO, Maternity and Infant Care, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and GreenFILE databases was conducted. The search criteria were kept broad to capture evidence from all countries and contexts; no date or study design limits were applied, except English language limits. We included studies that specifically measured indoor temperature and examined its effect on physical or mental health outcomes. Evidence was graded using the National Institutes of Health framework. RESULTS Twenty-two articles were included in the review, including 11 observational, seven cross-sectional and three longitudinal cohort studies and one prospective case-control study. Eight main health effects were described: respiratory, blood pressure, core temperature, blood glucose, mental health and cognition, heat-health symptoms, physical functioning and influenza transmission. Five studies found respiratory symptoms worsened in warm indoor environments, with one reporting indoor temperatures higher than 26 °C, which was associated with increased respiratory distress calls being made to paramedics (odds ratio = 1.63, P = 0.056). Core symptoms of schizophrenia and dementia were found to be significantly exacerbated by indoor heat (the latter above a 26 °C cumulative exposure threshold). The absorption of insulin doses in people with type one diabetes was also significantly accelerated in hot indoor environments. Only five studies reported the temperatures at which health outcomes worsened, with thresholds ranging between 26 °C and 32 °C. However, owing to insufficient data and the heterogeneity of the included studies (design, population, setting, exposure measures, outcomes and location), meta-analysis and an upper threshold determination was not feasible. CONCLUSIONS High indoor temperatures affect aspects of human health, with the strongest evidence for respiratory health, diabetes management and core schizophrenia and dementia symptoms. Exacerbation of symptoms in warm indoor environments has clinical relevance to at-risk groups and those caring for them. Care staff and facility managers need to be vigilant of high temperatures in care environments and should incorporate indoor overheating into their risk management and sustainability and/or climate change adaptation plans. The indoor temperature threshold at which adverse effects begin to occur remains unclear as studies seldom report the exposure-response relationship over a temperature continuum. Until there is extensive scientific data to support a maximum indoor temperature threshold, 26 °C may be the most suitable indoor temperature for at-risk groups in keeping with the existing guidance documents.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Tham
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, 16-18 Princes Gardens, London, SW7 1NE, UK.
| | - R Thompson
- Public Health England, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Rd, Lambeth, London, SE1 8UG, UK.
| | - O Landeg
- Public Health England, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Rd, Lambeth, London, SE1 8UG, UK.
| | - K A Murray
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - T Waite
- Public Health England, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Rd, Lambeth, London, SE1 8UG, UK.
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Bai YL, Huang DS, Liu J, Li DQ, Guan P. Effect of meteorological factors on influenza-like illness from 2012 to 2015 in Huludao, a northeastern city in China. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6919. [PMID: 31110929 PMCID: PMC6501768 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study aims to describe the epidemiological patterns of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Huludao, China and seek scientific evidence on the link of ILI activity with weather factors. Methods Surveillance data of ILI cases between January 2012 and December 2015 was collected in Huludao Central Hospital, meteorological data was obtained from the China Meteorological Data Service Center. Generalized additive model (GAM) was used to seek the relationship between the number of ILI cases and the meteorological factors. Multiple Smoothing parameter estimation was made on the basis of Poisson distribution, where the number of weekly ILI cases was treated as response, and the smoothness of weather was treated as covariates. Lag time was determined by the smallest Akaike information criterion (AIC). Smoothing coefficients were estimated for the prediction of the number of ILI cases. Results A total of 29, 622 ILI cases were observed during the study period, with children ILI cases constituted 86.77%. The association between ILI activity and meteorological factors varied across different lag periods. The lag time for average air temperature, maximum air temperature, minimum air temperature, vapor pressure and relative humidity were 2, 2, 1, 1 and 0 weeks, respectively. Average air temperature, maximum air temperature, minimum air temperature, vapor pressure and relative humidity could explain 16.5%, 9.5%, 18.0%, 15.9% and 7.7% of the deviance, respectively. Among the temperature indexes, the minimum temperature played the most important role. The number of ILI cases peaked when minimum temperature was around -13 °C in winter and 18 °C in summer. The number of cases peaked when the relative humidity was equal to 43% and then began to decrease with the increase of relative humidity. When the humidity exceeded 76%, the number of ILI cases began to rise. Conclusions The present study first analyzed the relationship between meteorological factors and ILI cases with special consideration of the length of lag period in Huludao, China. Low air temperature and low relative humidity (cold and dry weather condition) played a considerable role in the epidemic pattern of ILI cases. The trend of ILI activity could be possibly predicted by the variation of meteorological factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Long Bai
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.,Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - De-Sheng Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.,Department of Mathematics, School of Fundamental Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - De-Qiang Li
- Division of Infectious Disease Control, Huludao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Huludao, Liaoning, China
| | - Peng Guan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Marr LC, Tang JW, Van Mullekom J, Lakdawala SS. Mechanistic insights into the effect of humidity on airborne influenza virus survival, transmission and incidence. J R Soc Interface 2019. [PMID: 30958176 DOI: 10.6084/m9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza incidence and seasonality, along with virus survival and transmission, appear to depend at least partly on humidity, and recent studies have suggested that absolute humidity (AH) is more important than relative humidity (RH) in modulating observed patterns. In this perspective article, we re-evaluate studies of influenza virus survival in aerosols, transmission in animal models and influenza incidence to show that the combination of temperature and RH is equally valid as AH as a predictor. Collinearity must be considered, as higher levels of AH are only possible at higher temperatures, where it is well established that virus decay is more rapid. In studies of incidence that employ meteorological data, outdoor AH may be serving as a proxy for indoor RH in temperate regions during the wintertime heating season. Finally, we present a mechanistic explanation based on droplet evaporation and its impact on droplet physics and chemistry for why RH is more likely than AH to modulate virus survival and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linsey C Marr
- 1 Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, VA 24061 , USA
| | - Julian W Tang
- 2 Clinical Microbiology, University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust , Leicester , UK
- 3 Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester , Leicester , UK
| | | | - Seema S Lakdawala
- 5 Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA 15219 , USA
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Marr LC, Tang JW, Van Mullekom J, Lakdawala SS. Mechanistic insights into the effect of humidity on airborne influenza virus survival, transmission and incidence. J R Soc Interface 2019; 16:20180298. [PMID: 30958176 PMCID: PMC6364647 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza incidence and seasonality, along with virus survival and transmission, appear to depend at least partly on humidity, and recent studies have suggested that absolute humidity (AH) is more important than relative humidity (RH) in modulating observed patterns. In this perspective article, we re-evaluate studies of influenza virus survival in aerosols, transmission in animal models and influenza incidence to show that the combination of temperature and RH is equally valid as AH as a predictor. Collinearity must be considered, as higher levels of AH are only possible at higher temperatures, where it is well established that virus decay is more rapid. In studies of incidence that employ meteorological data, outdoor AH may be serving as a proxy for indoor RH in temperate regions during the wintertime heating season. Finally, we present a mechanistic explanation based on droplet evaporation and its impact on droplet physics and chemistry for why RH is more likely than AH to modulate virus survival and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linsey C. Marr
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Julian W. Tang
- Clinical Microbiology, University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Seema S. Lakdawala
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
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