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Hsiao CC, Cheng CG, Hong ZT, Chen YH, Cheng CA. The Influence of Fine Particulate Matter and Cold Weather on Emergency Room Interventions for Childhood Asthma. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:570. [PMID: 38792592 PMCID: PMC11122191 DOI: 10.3390/life14050570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Children are the most vulnerable to pollution due to their decreased stature, heightened respiratory rate, and frequent outdoor engagement. PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, and cold weather are associated with pediatric asthma. In this study, we investigated the nexus between air pollution, climate factors, and pediatric asthma emergency room visits (ERVs). (2) Method: Pediatric asthma ERV data for healthcare quality from the Taiwanese National Insurance in the Taipei area were obtained from 2015 to 2019. Air pollution and climate factor data were also collected. Poisson regression was employed to determine the relationships with relative risks (RRs). (3) Results: The incidence of pediatric asthma ERVs decreased, with a crude RR of 0.983 (95% CI: 0.98-0.986, p < 0.001). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) had an adjusted RR of 1.102 (95% CI: 1.037-1.172, p = 0.002) and a 7.7 µg/m3 increase, and air temperature had an adjusted RR of 0.813 (95% CI: 0.745-0.887, p < 0.001) comparing between the highest and lowest quarter air temperature associated with pediatric asthma ERVs. (4) Conclusions: This inquiry underscores the positive associations of PM2.5 and cold weather with pediatric asthma ERVs. The findings could guide the government to establish policies to reduce air pollution and promote children's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chun Hsiao
- Department of Nursing, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan 32549, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Gu Cheng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan 32549, Taiwan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
| | - Zih-Tai Hong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan 32549, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsuan Chen
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei 11220, Taiwan
| | - Chun-An Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
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Chen YL, Lin YY, Chin PW, Chen CC, Cheng CG, Cheng CA. Analyzing COVID-19 and Air Pollution Effects on Pediatric Asthma Emergency Room Visits in Taiwan. TOXICS 2024; 12:79. [PMID: 38251034 PMCID: PMC10818664 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
(1) Background: An asthma exacerbation that is not relieved with medication typically requires an emergency room visit (ERV). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in Taiwan in January of 2020. The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric ERVs in Taiwan was limited. Our aim was to survey pediatric asthma ERVs in the COVID-19 era; (2) Methods: Data were collected from the health quality database of the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Administration from 2019 to 2021. Air pollution and climatic factors in Taipei were used to evaluate these relationships. Changes in the rates of pediatric asthma ERVs were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the impact of air pollution and climate change; (3) Results: The rate of pediatric asthma ERVs declined in different areas and at different hospital levels including medical centers, regional and local hospitals. Some air pollutants (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm, particulate matter ≤ 10 µm, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide) reduced during the COVID-19 lockdown. Ozone increased the relative risk (RR) of pediatric asthma ERVs during the COVID-19 period by 1.094 (95% CI: 1.095-1.12) per 1 ppb increase; (4) Conclusions: The rate of pediatric asthma ERVs declined during the COVID-19 pandemic and ozone has harmful effects. Based on these results, the government could reduce the number of pediatric asthma ERVs through healthcare programs, thereby promoting children's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Lin Chen
- School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan;
| | - Yen-Yue Lin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan 32549, Taiwan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
| | - Pi-Wei Chin
- Department of Nursing, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Hua-Lien Hospital, Hua-Lien 97061, Taiwan;
| | - Cheng-Chueh Chen
- Department of General Surgery, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Yunlin 65152, Taiwan;
| | - Chun-Gu Cheng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan 32549, Taiwan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
| | - Chun-An Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
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Aleid A, Alolayani RA, Alkharouby R, Al Gawez AR, Alshehri FD, Alrasan RA, Alsubhi RS, Al Mutair A. Environmental Exposure and Pediatric Asthma Prevalence in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e46707. [PMID: 38022091 PMCID: PMC10630712 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing and shortness of breath. Currently, there is no cure for asthma. However, through accurate diagnosis, appropriate therapy, and effective management strategies, individuals with asthma can achieve a better quality of life. This study focused on determining the prevalence and environmental risk factors of pediatric asthma among children in Saudi Arabia. METHODS This cross-sectional study was undertaken from January 2023 to August 2023, encompassing five key regions in Saudi Arabia: Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western. A structured online questionnaire was disseminated to parents/guardians of children aged 2-18 with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma. The objective was to garner insights regarding pediatric asthma prevalence and associated risk factors within these regions. The questionnaire was designed with considerations for sociodemographic factors, environmental exposures, and known asthma triggers. From the survey's distribution, a total of 1666 responses were accumulated and processed for further analysis. RESULTS The survey saw the participation of 1666 respondents. The age bracket of 8-13 years had the highest representation, accounting for 52.5% of the total participants. From the total cohort, 26.9% had been diagnosed with pediatric asthma. It was also observed that 56.7% of the participants resided in areas marked by high traffic or were proximate to busy roads. Additionally, 30.7% of the respondents pinpointed specific times in the year when asthma symptoms intensified. When dissecting the data, it was discerned that there were statistically significant associations between the prevalence of pediatric asthma, gender, and the regions of Saudi Arabia with reference to air pollution exposure. Notably, gender had an odds ratio of 1.12, while the regional distribution held an odds ratio of 1. CONCLUSION Our study vividly highlights the intricate landscape of pediatric asthma across Saudi Arabia, indicating its prevalence and drawing attention to associated risk factors. Noteworthy observations include the pronounced impact of gender and regional variances, particularly concerning air pollution exposure, on asthma incidence. The insights gleaned from this research are invaluable in steering the formulation and implementation of strategic interventions geared towards bolstering children's health and enhancing their life quality in regions bearing the brunt of pediatric asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Raghad Alkharouby
- Collage of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, SAU
| | | | | | - Renad A Alrasan
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, SAU
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Simoneau T, Gaffin JM. Socioeconomic determinants of asthma health. Curr Opin Pediatr 2023; 35:337-343. [PMID: 36861771 PMCID: PMC10160003 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000001235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The current review provides an assessment of the recent pediatric literature evaluating socioeconomic drivers of asthma incidence and morbidity. The review addresses the specific social determinants of health related to housing, indoor and outdoor environmental exposures, healthcare access and quality, and the impact of systematic racism. RECENT FINDINGS Many social risk factors are associated with adverse asthma outcomes. Children living in low-income, urban neighborhoods have greater exposure to both indoor and outdoor hazards, including molds, mice, second-hand smoke, chemicals, and air pollutants, all of which are associated with adverse asthma outcomes. Providing asthma education in the community - via telehealth, school-based health centers, or peer mentors - are all effective methods for improving medication adherence and asthma outcomes. The racially segregated neighborhoods created by the racist 'redlining' policies implemented decades ago, persist today as hotspots of poverty, poor housing conditions, and adverse asthma outcomes. SUMMARY Routine screening for social determinants of health in clinical settings is important to identify the social risk factors of pediatric patients with asthma. Interventions targeting social risk factors can improve pediatric asthma outcomes, but more studies are needed related to social risk interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tregony Simoneau
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Lee JX, Phipatanakul W, Gaffin JM. Environment and the development of severe asthma in inner city population. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 23:179-184. [PMID: 36728241 PMCID: PMC9974609 DOI: 10.1097/aci.0000000000000890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Higher asthma prevalence and morbidity are seen in inner-city areas, disproportionately affecting low-income families living in substandard housing. Children within these families experience more frequent asthma exacerbations, acute care and emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, thus characterizing severe asthma. In this review, we assess recent published literature focused on indoor and outdoor exposures that contribute to the development and morbidity of asthma. RECENT FINDINGS Many urban environmental exposures contribute to asthma burden, including tobacco/e-cigarette smoke, pest allergens, molds, and possibly synthetic chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenol A, radon, and volatile organic compounds. Individuals living in inner-city areas also experience higher levels of air pollutants and ambient heat, further perpetuating asthma incidence and severity. SUMMARY This article summarizes the latest advances and provides direction for future research on risk factors, interventions, and public policy to help alleviate the burden of asthma due to urban environment exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia X Lee
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Division of allergy and immunology, Boston Children's Hospital
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan M Gaffin
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Zhang J, Dong C, Xu H, Chen T, Chen F, Wang D, Shi Y, Liu Y, Su J. Use of symptom diary in primary students: association of nitrogen dioxide with prevalence of symptoms. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023:10.1007/s10653-023-01541-8. [PMID: 36973524 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01541-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is a global public health concern, and numerous studies have attempted to identify the health effects of air pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2). In China, there are few studies investigating the relationship between NO2 exposure and symptoms among children at an individual level. The aim of the study was to evaluate the acute effects of NO2 on prevalence of symptoms of primary students. An environmental and health questionnaire survey was administered to 4240 primary students in seven districts of Shanghai. Daily symptoms, as well as the daily air pollution and meteorological data from each community, were recorded during the corresponding period. A multivariable logistic regression model was utilized to analyze the relationship between the prevalence of symptoms and NO2 exposure in school-age children. A model with interaction items was adopted to estimate the interactive effects of NO2 and confounding factors on symptoms. The average NO2 level in central urban, industrial and rural areas were 62.07 ± 21.66, 54.86 ± 18.32 and 36.62 ± 21.23 μg m-3, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that the occurrence of symptoms was significantly affected by NO2 exposure in the short-term. The largest associations were observed for a 10 μg m-3 increase in 5-day moving average (lag04) NO2 concentration with prevalence of general symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.07-1.22), throat symptoms (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.13-1.35) and nasal symptoms (OR = 1.142, 95% CI: 1.02-1.27). Subgroup analysis showed that non-rural areas, boys, nearby environmental pollution source and history of present illness were all susceptible factors to the effects of NO2 exposure. Furthermore, there were interactive effects between NO2 exposure and area types on reported symptoms. NO2 can increase the risk of symptoms in primary students in the short-term, which could be significantly enhanced in central urban and industrial areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianghua Zhang
- Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changning District, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Chunyang Dong
- Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changning District, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Huihui Xu
- Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changning District, Shanghai, 200336, China.
| | - Tian Chen
- Division of Public Health Service and Safety Assessment, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Feier Chen
- Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changning District, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Duo Wang
- Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changning District, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Yewen Shi
- Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changning District, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Yongping Liu
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jin Su
- Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changning District, Shanghai, 200336, China.
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Farooq S, Khatri S. Life Course of Asthma. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1426:43-76. [PMID: 37464116 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32259-4_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Asthma is a heterogeneous chronic airway disease that can vary over a lifetime. Although broad categories of asthma by severity and type have been constructed, there remains a tremendous opportunity to discover an approach to managing asthma with additional factors in mind. Many in the field have suggested and are pursuing a novel paradigm shift in how asthma might be better managed, considering the life course of exposures, management priorities, and predicted trajectory of lung function growth. This approach will require a more holistic view of prenatal, postnatal, adolescence, hormonal and gender aspects, and the aging process. In addition, the environment, externally and internally, including in one's genetic code and epigenetic changes, are factors that affect how asthma progresses or becomes more stable in individuals. This chapter focuses on the various influences that may, to differing degrees, affect people with asthma, which can develop at any time in their lives. Shifting the paradigm of thought and strategies for care and advocating for public policies and health delivery that focus on this philosophy is paramount to advance asthma care for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sobia Farooq
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, CMO Division of Lung Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sumita Khatri
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, CMO Division of Lung Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Joint association between ambient air pollutant mixture and pediatric asthma exacerbations. Environ Epidemiol 2022; 6:e225. [PMID: 36249268 PMCID: PMC9556053 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to air pollutants is known to exacerbate asthma, with prior studies focused on associations between single pollutant exposure and asthma exacerbations. As air pollutants often exist as a complex mixture, there is a gap in understanding the association between complex air pollutant mixtures and asthma exacerbations. We evaluated the association between the air pollutant mixture (52 pollutants) and pediatric asthma exacerbations. Method This study focused on children (age ≤ 19 years) who lived in Douglas County, Nebraska, during 2016-2019. A seasonal-scale joint association between the outdoor air pollutant mixture adjusting for potential confounders (temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction) in relation to pediatric asthma exacerbation-related emergency department (ED) visits was evaluated using the generalized weighted quantile sum (qWQS) regression with repeated holdout validation. Results We observed associations between air pollutant mixture and pediatric asthma exacerbations during spring (lagged by 5 days), summer (lag 0-5 days), and fall (lag 1-3 days) seasons. The estimate of the joint outdoor air pollutant mixture effect was higher during the summer season (adjusted-βWQS = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66, 1.55), followed by spring (adjusted-βWQS = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.62) and fall (adjusted-βWQS = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.33) seasons. Among the air pollutants, PM2.5, pollen, and mold contributed higher weight to the air pollutant mixture. Conclusion There were associations between outdoor air pollutant mixture and pediatric asthma exacerbations during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Among the 52 outdoor air pollutant metrics investigated, PM2.5, pollen (sycamore, grass, cedar), and mold (Helminthosporium, Peronospora, and Erysiphe) contributed the highest weight to the air pollutant mixture.
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Paciência I, Cavaleiro Rufo J, Moreira A. Environmental inequality: Air pollution and asthma in children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2022; 33. [PMID: 35754123 DOI: 10.1111/pai.13818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Whether you benefit from high-quality urban environments, such as those rich in green and blue spaces, that may offer benefits to allergic and respiratory health depends on where you live and work. Environmental inequality, therefore, results from the unequal distribution of the risks and benefits that stem from interactions with our environment. METHODS Within this perspective, this article reviews the evidence for an association between air pollution caused by industrial activities, traffic, disinfection-by-products, and tobacco/e-cigarettes, and asthma in children. We also discuss the proposed mechanisms by which air pollution increases asthma risk, including environmental epigenetic regulations, oxidative stress, and damage, disrupted barrier integrity, inflammatory pathways, and enhancement of respiratory sensitization to aeroallergens. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Environmental air pollution is a major determinant of childhood asthma, but the magnitude of effect is not shared equally across the population, regions, and settings where people live, work, and spend their time. Improvement of the exposure assessment, a better understanding of critical exposure time windows, underlying mechanisms, and drivers of heterogeneity may improve the risk estimates. Urban conditions and air quality are not only important features for national and local authorities to shape healthy cities and protect their citizens from environmental and health risks, but they also provide opportunities to mitigate inequalities in the most deprived areas where the environmental burden is highest. Actions to avoid exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants should be complementary at different levels-individual, local, and national levels-to take effective measures to protect children who have little or no control over the air they breathe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Paciência
- EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal.,Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - João Cavaleiro Rufo
- EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - André Moreira
- EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal.,Serviço de Imunoalergologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Porto, Portugal.,Basic and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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