PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Bousayna Iraqi
AU  - Chafiq Mahraoui
TI  - Correlation between meteo-climatological factors and asthma exacerbation among children: A prospective study
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA4383
DP  - 2016 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA4383
VI  - 48
IP  - suppl 60
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA4383.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA4383.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2016 Sep 01; 48
AB  - Asthma is a serious public health problem. Seasonal modifications could play a role in asthma exacerbation among children.The aim of this study is to investigate the link between various meteorological factors and asthma exacerbations.Methods: This is a prospective study that includes children aged of 3 months and more who have been hospitalized for Asthma exacerbation at the Pneumology service of the Children's Hospital in Rabat (Morocco) during a one-year period (March 2011 to February 2012). Children with another pathology associated with asthma were excluded from the study.The daily meteorologic variations (pluviometry, temperature, atmospheric pressure and humidity) were taken from the website, entitled “Marocmétéo”. The correlation between seasonal variations and the incidence of asthma exacerbation was done using spearman test.Results: 1760 children between 1 to 15 year old (mean age=5.76) were recruited in the study and a high level of exacerbation was mentioned for the children between 1 to 4 year old.The higher the humidity and atmospheric pressure, the higher the incidence of exacerbation (p≤0.001). Besides, the higher the temperature, the lower the incidence of asthma exacerbation. No relationship was detected between pluviometry and asthma exacerbation. (p=0.206)Conclusion: Cold weather, high humidity and atmospheric pressure seem to be correlated with a high incidence of asthma exacerbation. Thus, preventive measures have to be taken during the cold season.