Relations between meteorological factors and asthma in children from Qingdao city

Xiaomei LIU; Xiaobin ZHOU; Shuang LIANG; Rongjun LIN

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Bronchial asthma is one of those diseases that are significantly affected by meteorological factors. There is close relationship between asthma attack and meteorological factor. There have been some studies on the relationship between asthma and meteorological factors at home and abroad, but the results are various due to different area conditions.

OBJECTIVE:

To analyze the relationship between asthmatic attack and meteorological factors in children in Qingdao city.

DESIGN:

Observational experiment.

SETTING:

The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College.

PARTICIPANTS:

Altogether 445 inpatient children, 307 males, 138 females, aged ＜ 14 years, who were diagnosed of asthma attack definitely, of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical University, Qingdao Haici Hospital,Qingdao Children Hospital between January 1st 2000 and December 31st 2004 were retrieved.

METHODS:

The asthmatic attack time of 445 children patients with asthmatic attack of Qingdao city and concurrent month mean temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, wind speed and other meteorologic al data were collected.Seasonal rhythm of asthmatic attack in children and the relationship between asthmatic attack and meteorological factors were analyzed with circular distribution analysis and linear regression analysis, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

①Month attack information of 445 asthma patients. ② Circular distribution analysis results of asthmatic attack time. ③ Linear regression analysis results about the relationship between asthma attack and meteorological factors.

RESULTS:

① Data revealed that asthmatic attack in Qingdao city focused on November, December, January and February, which took up 47.9% of total amount in that year. There were 307 male patients (incidence 3.12%)in a year,female patients only 138 cases (incidence 1.51%), which revealed that boys have a higher incidence of asthma attack than girls. ②The peak season of incidence of asthmatic attack was found in winter and peak season for male and female patients was in January and December, respectively (P ＜ 0.05). ③ Higher incidence of asthmatic attack of children was related with higher air pressure, lower temperature, lower relative humidity(r =0.435, -0.320, -0.296, all P ＜ 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The incidence of asthma attack presents seasonal rhythm in Qingdao city and it is influenced by climate conditions. Therefore, enough consideration of meteorological factors should be paid on preventive works for asthma.