Shanshan Li1, Peter J Baker2, Bin B Jalaludin3, Yuming Guo2, Guy B Marks4, Lyn S Denison5, Gail M Williams2. 1. School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia. Electronic address: uqshandy0601@gmail.com. 2. School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia. 3. Centre for Research, Evidence Management and Surveillance, Sydney and South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales 1871, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia. 4. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, Elizabeth Street, Liverpool, New South Wales 2170, Australia; Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, 431 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales 2037, Australia. 5. Pacific Environment ‒Toxikos, Suite G62, 63 Turner Street, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the short-term effects of ambient temperature on respiratory symptoms for school children with asthma across Australia. METHODS: A panel of 270 children (7-12 years) with asthma was recruited from six Australian cities. They were asked to record their respiratory symptoms every day in the morning (for night-time symptoms) and evening (for daytime symptoms) for four weeks. Daily ambient temperature, relative humidity and air pollution data were obtained from fixed monitors nearby. A mixed logistic regression model was used to examine the effects of ambient temperature on respiratory symptoms adjusted for children's sex, age, standing height, weight and air pollution. Subjects were specified as random effects. RESULTS: The relationships between ambient temperature and respiratory symptoms were linear. Increasing temperatures induced the risks of children's asthmatic symptoms, especially for "wheeze/chest tightness" and to a lesser extent for "cough/phlegm". The effects were acute and lasted for four days (lag 0-3) in general. With increasing ambient temperature, boys were more at risk than girls. CONCLUSIONS: High ambient temperature is a risk factor for respiratory symptoms in children with asthma. As ambient temperature increases, policies and strategies for rising temperatures will be necessary to protect asthmatic children.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the short-term effects of ambient temperature on respiratory symptoms for school children with asthma across Australia. METHODS: A panel of 270 children (7-12 years) with asthma was recruited from six Australian cities. They were asked to record their respiratory symptoms every day in the morning (for night-time symptoms) and evening (for daytime symptoms) for four weeks. Daily ambient temperature, relative humidity and air pollution data were obtained from fixed monitors nearby. A mixed logistic regression model was used to examine the effects of ambient temperature on respiratory symptoms adjusted for children's sex, age, standing height, weight and air pollution. Subjects were specified as random effects. RESULTS: The relationships between ambient temperature and respiratory symptoms were linear. Increasing temperatures induced the risks of children's asthmatic symptoms, especially for "wheeze/chest tightness" and to a lesser extent for "cough/phlegm". The effects were acute and lasted for four days (lag 0-3) in general. With increasing ambient temperature, boys were more at risk than girls. CONCLUSIONS: High ambient temperature is a risk factor for respiratory symptoms in children with asthma. As ambient temperature increases, policies and strategies for rising temperatures will be necessary to protect asthmatic children.
Authors: Cassandra R O'Lenick; Andrea Winquist; Howard H Chang; Michael R Kramer; James A Mulholland; Andrew Grundstein; Stefanie Ebelt Sarnat Journal: Environ Res Date: 2017-03-22 Impact factor: 6.498
Authors: Zhiwei Xu; James Lewis Crooks; Janet Mary Davies; Al Fazal Khan; Wenbiao Hu; Shilu Tong Journal: Int J Biometeorol Date: 2017-10-11 Impact factor: 3.787