Influence of Aerobiology and Weather on Symptoms in Children with Asthma

Abstract

Local and central European weather, pollen (Castanea and Poaceae) and spore (alternaria and cladosporium) counts, and asthmatic complaints and drug requirements (expressed as ‘attack score’) were correlated in a group of 40 asthmatic children (21 with recurrent symptoms) during a summer holiday camp for 6 weeks. It was shown that there are significant correlations between the cumulative 24-hour pollen count over 6 weeks and the attack frequency. 2-Hourly counts or daily counts did not correlate with complaints. Consecutive 10-day averages of attacks and pollen and spore counts showed good agreement. The influence of local weather was negligible. Low pressure gradients or high atmospheric pressure was not beneficial. Improvements of lung function are ascribed to training effects.

The Effect of Outdoor Fungal Spore Concentrations on Daily Asthma Severity

“…Klabuschnigg and colleagues (3) examined data collected daily from 40 asthmatics over a 6-week period in an Austrian summer camp. The authors graphically showed a relationship of asthmatic complaints to pollen and to Cladosporium concentrations; however, no statistical analyses were presented.…”

“…This was carried out using the panel study design, which is characterized by longitudinal analyses of daily data for a panel of asthmatics, with each subject acting as his or her own control. This study was conducted in the small Southern California community of Alpine, California, over an 8-week period from 9 May through 3 July 1994. The time period was selected to maximize both 03 and fungal spore exposures, and followed the peak spring pollen season for the area.…”

Point Process Models in Asthma Attacks for Assessing Environmental Risk Factors

“…They correspond to the parameters comprising the baseline intensity function and a regression coefficient parameter, respectively. We assume that two sequences {XJ}, {Yt}, (t = 1, ... ,T) have independent binomial distributions, Pr {Xt = xt} = Pt -Pt (8) and Pr (Yt = Yt} = :] qtYt (1 -qt)mt -Yt (9) respectively, where we have restrictions that (10) [Pt/(l -Pt)] = 0 + Tt and log [qt/(l -q,)] = Tt When we investigate the relation between weather fronts and asthma attacks, it is preferable to obtain the data of asthma attacks along the path where fronts move. The weather information can be easily obtained from the weather stations, but that of asthmatics is much difficult.…”

“…Korn and Whittmore (5) describe another likelihood LI, in Eq. (3) from the viewpoint of meter-method of estimating the parameters which are common 2,4,6,8) require the records at previous time, t -1. Hence, patients with any missing information at time t -1 or t cannot be included in the models.…”

“…These effects are frequently studied in relation to meteorological influences (5)(6)(7). The third is the category that includes other environmental stimuli such as pollens (8), spores, and house dust.…”