B Erbas1, M Jazayeri2, K A Lambert1, C H Katelaris3, L A Prendergast2, R Tham4, M J Parrodi1, J Davies5, E Newbigin6, M J Abramson7, S C Dharmage4. 1. School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia. 2. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia. 3. Department of Medicine, Immunology and Allergy, Campbelltown Hospital, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia. 4. Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. 5. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia. 6. School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. 7. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the context of increased asthma exacerbations associated with climatic changes such as thunderstorm asthma, interest in establishing the link between pollen exposure and asthma hospital admissions has intensified. Here, we systematically reviewed and performed a meta-analysis of studies on pollen and emergency department (ED) attendance. METHODS: A search for studies with appropriate search strategy in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and CINAHL was conducted. Each study was assessed for quality and risk of bias. The available evidence was summarized both qualitatively and meta-analysed using random-effects models when moderate heterogeneity was observed. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included. The pollen taxa investigated differed between studies, allowing meta-analysis only of the effect of grass pollen. A statistically significant increase in the percentage change in the mean number of asthma ED presentations (MPC) (pooled results from 3 studies) was observed for an increase in 10 grass pollen grains per cubic metre of exposure 1.88% (95% CI = 0.94%, 2.82%). Time series studies showed positive correlations between pollen concentrations and ED presentations. Age-stratified studies found strongest associations in children aged 5-17 years old. CONCLUSION: Exposure to ambient grass pollen is an important trigger for childhood asthma exacerbations requiring ED attendance. As pollen exposure is increasingly a problem especially in relation to thunderstorm asthma, studies with uniform measures of pollen and similar analytical methods are necessary to fully understand its impact on human health.
BACKGROUND: In the context of increased asthma exacerbations associated with climatic changes such as thunderstorm asthma, interest in establishing the link between pollen exposure and asthma hospital admissions has intensified. Here, we systematically reviewed and performed a meta-analysis of studies on pollen and emergency department (ED) attendance. METHODS: A search for studies with appropriate search strategy in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and CINAHL was conducted. Each study was assessed for quality and risk of bias. The available evidence was summarized both qualitatively and meta-analysed using random-effects models when moderate heterogeneity was observed. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included. The pollen taxa investigated differed between studies, allowing meta-analysis only of the effect of grass pollen. A statistically significant increase in the percentage change in the mean number of asthma ED presentations (MPC) (pooled results from 3 studies) was observed for an increase in 10 grass pollen grains per cubic metre of exposure 1.88% (95% CI = 0.94%, 2.82%). Time series studies showed positive correlations between pollen concentrations and ED presentations. Age-stratified studies found strongest associations in children aged 5-17 years old. CONCLUSION: Exposure to ambient grass pollen is an important trigger for childhood asthma exacerbations requiring ED attendance. As pollen exposure is increasingly a problem especially in relation to thunderstorm asthma, studies with uniform measures of pollen and similar analytical methods are necessary to fully understand its impact on human health.
Authors: Kathryn M Emmerson; Jeremy D Silver; Marcus Thatcher; Alan Wain; Penelope J Jones; Andrew Dowdy; Edward J Newbigin; Beau W Picking; Jason Choi; Elizabeth Ebert; Tony Bannister Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-04-14 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Nur Sabrina Idrose; Caroline J Lodge; Bircan Erbas; Jo A Douglass; Dinh S Bui; Shyamali C Dharmage Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-20 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Amir Sapkota; Yan Dong; Linze Li; Ghassem Asrar; Yuyu Zhou; Xuecao Li; Frances Coates; Adam J Spanier; Jonathan Matz; Leonard Bielory; Allison G Breitenother; Clifford Mitchell; Chengsheng Jiang Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2020-07-01
Authors: Milja A Kitinoja; Timo T Hugg; Nazeeba Siddika; Daniel Rodriguez Yanez; Maritta S Jaakkola; Jouni J K Jaakkola Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-01-10 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Tiana C L Moreira; Jefferson L Polizel; Itamar de Souza Santos; Demóstenes F Silva Filho; Isabela Bensenor; Paulo A Lotufo; Thais Mauad Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-01-22 Impact factor: 3.390