African dust clouds are associated with increased paediatric asthma accident and emergency admissions on the Caribbean island of Trinidad
International journal of biometerology
; 49(6): 371-376, July 2005. mapasilus graf tab
Article
em En
| MedCarib
| ID: med-17557
Biblioteca responsável:
TT5
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To determine if there is any association between paediatric Accident & Emergency (A&E) asthma admissions and Saharan dust cloud coverMethods:
A retrospective ecological study of paediatric asthma patients who attended the A&E department of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in relation to Saharan dust visibility andother climactic variables for the period May 23 2001 to May 13 2002. A quasi-likelihood approach was used to develop a statistical model for the relationship between acute paediatric asthma A&Evisits and Saharan dust cover.Results:
2655 A&E visits for acute asthma during the study period. There were significant associations between paediatric admissions and two climate variables; Saharan dust levels (p <0.05)and barometric pressure (p <0.01). In the absence of dust however, barometric pressure by itself hadno predictive power. Dust cover & barometric pressure were most strongly associated with increased admissions the day after dust coverConclusions:
Saharan dust cloud cover over Trinidad was associated with an increase inpaediatric asthma A&E visits on the following day. The dust effect was strongly influenced by prevailing barometric pressure; heavy dust cover and low pressure were most strongly associated with increased acute asthma visits.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MedCarib
Assunto principal:
Asma
/
Trinidad e Tobago
/
Poeira
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Caribe ingles
/
Trinidad y tobago
Idioma:
En
Revista:
International journal of biometerology
Ano de publicação:
2005
Tipo de documento:
Article