Association of Weather Conditions with Childhood Admissions for Wheezy Bronchitis or Asthma in Athens

Abstract

Background: The association between asthma morbidity and meteorological conditions is well documented, but it is not clear to what extent more specific meteorological variables are implicated. Objectives: This study was aiming to investigate whether there is any association between specific meteorological conditions and the seasonal variation and the rate of asthma admissions among children in Athens. Methods: Data were obtained retrospectively from hospital registries of the three main Children’s Hospitals in Athens during a 23-year period (1978–2000). The meteorological database consisted of mean monthly values of eight meteorological variables. The whole period studied was divided into three time periods: 1978–1987, 1988–1993 and 1994–2000. Results: A clear seasonal trend with a permanent pattern was detected. There were more monthly asthma admissions in winter-spring and autumn for younger children, as well as a lower peak in winter and autumn and a major one in May for older children, without significant differences in between the three time periods. The results of a multiple regression analysis revealed that relative humidity and atmospheric pressure were predictors of up to 56.7% (1988–1993) and 59.2% (1994–2000) monthly asthma admissions among younger children. No relation of the time trend in asthma admissions during the periods studied for any age group with any of the meteorological variables was detected. Conclusions: Our results indicate a constant seasonal variability in asthma admissions among children in Athens, whereas relative humidity and atmospheric pressure are the more implicated meteorological variables for younger asthmatic children.

The Effect of Weather Variability on Pediatric Asthma Admissions in Athens, Greece

“…Monthly CAA rates, after adjusting for paediatric beds that are not accounted for (approximately 20-22% of total number), were expressed per 10 5 populations aged the same as the studied groups. The estimation of the population for each year of the study period was based upon the 1981 and 1991 national census (10).…”

“…On the contrary, weather types characterized by high air temperature, high absolute humidity, high total solar radiation and sunshine, are related to low CAA. Besides, a constant seasonal variability in asthma admissions among children in Athens was found, whereas the more implicated meteorological variables for younger asthmatic children were relative humidity and atmospheric pressure (10).…”

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Asthma among Adolescents and Their Parents in Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates)

“…Although environmental and genetic susceptibility to allergic diseases may be important [11,12], large geographical variations in disease prevalence between peoples of similar genetic background and the trend to increasing incidence rates of allergic diseases worldwide may not be fully explained by these factors [13]. The overwhelming majority of what is known about the increasing prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases are results from studies carried out in Western countries, whereas from Arabian Gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), data are scarce.…”

Effects of Housing Characteristics and Home Environmental Factors on Respiratory Symptoms of 10,784 Elementary School Children from Northeast China

“…It has been suggested that this cannot be explained by genetic factors and improvements in diagnostic methods alone, but environmental factors including indoor housing factors contribute to the increase. Many studies have associated environmental factors with increasing prevalence of respiratory symptoms in children [4,5,6], yet few studies have been performed in China, where most people live in concrete apartment buildings. Water and heat are supplied by district heating systems, and coal or coal gas is used for cooking.…”