ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This study evaluates the impact of the ash cloud emitted in February 2010 during the eruption of the Soufrière Hill volcano of the island of Montserrat (70 km from Guadeloupe), on asthma exacerbations registered by the emergency hospital services in the archipelago of Guadeloupe in February 2010. METHODS: We first recorded the clinical features and outcome of each adult patient admitted as an emergency with an acute asthma exacerbation during this period, then compared the admission rates for asthma exacerbation, concentrations of particulates and chemical pollutants, and climatic parameters before, during, and after exposure to the ash cloud. Then, using a generalized linear model defined by a Poisson regression, we calculated the risks related to these factors. RESULTS: There was an increase in acute asthma admissions during and after exposure to the ash cloud (2.44/day versus 5.6/day, P<0.003). PM10 (particles<10 microns) were the major particulate pollution episodes (mean: 223 µg/m(3)). Asthmatics admitted acutely during the period of pollution were young adults (35 [18-49] years old), and the majority had asthma classified as intermittent (57%, n=27). In multivariate analysis, PM10 were a risk factor for acute asthma presentations during this period (aRR 2.89, 95% [from 1.69 to 4.93]). CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the clinical data and outcome of adult patients admitted to emergency asthma exacerbation during the eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano in Montserrat and indicates that there was a significant impact of the ash plume on respiratory health, mainly in patients with intermittent asthma.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants/adverse effects , Asthma/etiology , Disease Outbreaks , Volcanic Eruptions/adverse effects , Acute Disease , Adolescent , Adult , Air Pollutants/analysis , Asthma/epidemiology , Asthma/physiopathology , Emergencies , Female , Gases/adverse effects , Gases/analysis , Guadeloupe/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Meteorological Concepts , Middle Aged , Particle Size , Particulate Matter/adverse effects , Particulate Matter/analysis , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Smoking/epidemiology , Time Factors , West Indies , Young AdultABSTRACT
A three weeks physical training program at medium altitude induces some fonctional metabolic and hormonal changes in the response to physical effort. These changes vary, depending on whether the effort occurs on the 3rd or 7th day following return to sea-level. In the former case one observes a decrease in the somatotrophic response whereas in the latter one observes a decrease both in the somatotrophic and glucocorticoide response as well as in the level of blood contained lactic acids. These changes could be related to an improvement in the aerobic metabolism.
