RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Are air pollutants confounders in relation to weather variables as triggers for acute asthma?
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P771
VO 42
IS Suppl 57
A1 Caroline Gouder
A1 Eleanor Gerada
A1 Josef Micallef
A1 Simon Gouder
A1 Richard Pullicino
A1 Stephen Montefort
YR 2013
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P771.abstract
AB Background: Previous results from our study show that emergency department (ED) visits for acute asthma exhibit seasonality in Malta. Visits were positively correlated with wind speed and precipitation and negatively correlated with humidity, barometric pressure and temperature.Aim: To identify whether air pollutants are confounders in relation to weather variables.Methodology: All adults (n=328) presenting to the ED with acute asthma in 2010 were included. Daily weather data was obtained from the meteorological office. Daily ambient levels of PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and O3 were obtained from MEPA. The day prior to and that of presentation were taken to be -1 and 0 respectively.Results: On days of increased ED visits: high wind speed was positively correlated with SO2 and O3 on day 0 and -1(p&lt;0.05) and negatively correlated with PM2.5 on day 0 and -1(p&lt;0.05) and PM10 (p&gt;0.05); increased precipitation was negatively correlated with PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and O3 on day 0 and -1(p&lt;0.05); max. humidity was positively correlated with O3 on day 0(p=0.04) and negatively correlated with PM 2.5, PM10 and SO2 on day 0 and -1 (p&gt;0.05); barometric pressure was positively correlated with O3(p&lt;0.05) and negatively correlated with PM2.5 and PM10(p&lt;0.05); temperature was positively correlated with PM2.5 and PM10 on day 0 and -1(p&lt;0.001) but negatively correlated with O3 and SO2(p&gt;0.05). Regression analysis showed temperature to be the best predictor for ED visits(p&lt;0.05).Conclusion:High wind speeds and temperature are associated with elevated air pollutant levels. Precipitation, humidity and pressure seem to be independent triggers for acute asthma. Increased vigilance during such periods may avoid exacerbations.