ABSTRACT
Asthma is a chronic disease in Barbados with a mean of 10,348 cases per year. This study was undertaken to determine the demographic distribution of the asthmatic attacks, their relationship with several meteorological variables and to provide a predictive equation. The study used data on asthmatic attacks provided by the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and meteorological data from the Barbados Meteorological Office and the Caribbean Institutefor Meteorology and Hydrology. The study found that the greatest number of asthmatic attacks occurred in children aged five years or younger, that there was an exponential decrease in asthmatic attacks with age, that the incidence was higher on the eastern side of the island and that there was a higher incidence in males than in females. The statistical analysis found the highest correlations with vapour pressure and a three-week lag relationship between vapour pressure and asthmatic attacks. A stepwise regression analysis provided a predictive equation.
El asma es una enfermedad crónica en Barbados con un promedio de 10 348 casos por año. Este estudio fue emprendido para determinar la distribución demográfica de los ataques asmáticos, su relación con varias variables meteorológicas y para proporcionar una ecuación predictiva. El estudio usó datos sobre ataques asmáticos suministrados por el Departamento de Accidentes y Emergencia del Hospital Queen Elizabeth y datos meteorológicos de la Oficina Meteorológica de Barbados y el Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología del Caribe. El estudio halló que la mayor parte de los ataques asmáticos ocurrió en niños de cinco años de edad o más joven, que había una disminución exponencial en los ataques asmáticos con la edad, que la incidencia era más alta en el lado oriental de la isla y que había una incidencia más alta en los varones que en las hembras. El análisis estadístico halló las correlaciones más altas con la presión de vapor y una relación de retraso de tres semana entre la presión de vapor y los ataques asmáticos. Un análisis gradual de regresión proporcionó una ecuación predictiva.
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Asthma/epidemiology , Asthma/etiology , Barbados/epidemiology , Demography , Epidemiologic Studies , Age Factors , Sex Factors , Risk Factors , Geography , Hypersensitivity/complications , Incidence , OzoneABSTRACT
Asthma is a chronic disease in Barbados with a mean of 10,348 cases per year. This study was undertaken to determine the demographic distribution of the asthmatic attacks, their relationship with several meteorological variables and to provide a predictive equation. The study used data on asthmatic attacks provided by the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and meteorological data from the Barbados Meteorological Office and the Caribbean Institutefor Meteorology and Hydrology. The study found that the greatest number of asthmatic attacks occurred in children aged five years or younger, that there was an exponential decrease in asthmatic attacks with age, that the incidence was higher on the eastern side of the island and that there was a higher incidence in males than in females. The statistical analysis found the highest correlations with vapour pressure and a three-week lag relationship between vapour pressure and asthmatic attacks. A stepwise regression analysis provided a predictive equation.
Subject(s)
Asthma/epidemiology , Age Factors , Asthma/etiology , Barbados/epidemiology , Child, Preschool , Demography , Epidemiologic Studies , Female , Geography , Humans , Hypersensitivity/complications , Incidence , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Ozone , Risk Factors , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Daily data on asthmatic patients seen in the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for the years 1983 and 1989-1991, and corresponding daily data for the meterological variables of wind speed, relative humidity (0800 hr), vapour pressure and minimum and maximum temperatures were analysed to determine the statistical relationships that might exist. The results show positive correlation between asthma attacks and relative humidity and vapour pressure, and negative correlations for the wind speed. The data also show the existence of a seasonal variation in asthmatic attacks. It is suggested that this variation is due to the transport of aero-allergens into Barbados through the trade winds (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Asthma , Weather , Barbados , Humidity/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Bronchial asthma appears to be of increasing importance as a cause of morbidity and mortality. Many workers have noted a seasonal variation in the incidence of the disease. This has been attributed either directly to climatic changes or indirectly to an increase in atmospheric allergens. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between weather and the incidence of bronchial asthma in Barbados. Meterological records were obtained for the period 1973 - 1980 from the Grantley Adams Airport and the monthly attendance for asthmatics from the casualty records at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for 1973 but this has been a relative constant proportion of the total attendances. The highest monthly attendance occurs in October, with a smaller peak in May. There is increased rainfal between June and December with peaks in August and October. The temperature reaches a minimum in January with a rapid increase in May. Humidity reaches a maximum in October. The maximum release of pollen and fungal spores, and cane spores is not related to the time of highest incidence of bronchial asthma. There is evidence that dust originating in Africa reaches Barbados in May to December. The dust contains a wide variety of biological material that may be allergenic. The levels of dust are particularly high in August and October. It is suggested that the seasonal incidence of bronchial asthma in Barbados may be related to rainfall, temperature and humidty, and that there is a further association with African dust (AU)
