Effects of Meteorological Factors on Hospitalizations in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review

Background. Environmental factors such as weather variables contribute to asthma exacerbation. The impact of meteorological factors on asthma-related hospital admissions (HAs) or emergency department visits (EDVs) has been assessed in the literature. We conducted a systematic review to establish a c...

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Main Authors: Elnaz Bodaghkhani, Masoud Mahdavian, Cameron MacLellan, Alison Farrell, Shabnam Asghari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Canadian Respiratory Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/3435103
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author Elnaz Bodaghkhani
Masoud Mahdavian
Cameron MacLellan
Alison Farrell
Shabnam Asghari
author_facet Elnaz Bodaghkhani
Masoud Mahdavian
Cameron MacLellan
Alison Farrell
Shabnam Asghari
author_sort Elnaz Bodaghkhani
collection DOAJ
description Background. Environmental factors such as weather variables contribute to asthma exacerbation. The impact of meteorological factors on asthma-related hospital admissions (HAs) or emergency department visits (EDVs) has been assessed in the literature. We conducted a systematic review to establish a conclusion of whether these findings from the literature are consistent and generalizable or if they vary significantly by certain subgroups. Objective. This study aims to review the effect of meteorological variables on asthma HAs and EDVs in adults, to identify knowledge gaps and to highlight future research priorities. Method. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL. All studies published in English were screened and included if they met the eligibility criteria. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality of the studies and extracted the data. The available evidence was summarized and presented using a harvest plot. Results. Our initial search returned a total of 3887 articles. After screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, 16 studies were included. Thirty-one percent of the included studies (5/16) found that temperature was the only factor associated with asthma hospitalization or EDVs. Six studies (37%) found that both temperature and relative humidity were associated with HAs. Four studies (25%) identified thunderstorms as a possible factor associated with asthma hospitalization in adults. Conclusion. Our review suggests that HAs and EDVs due to asthma are associated with many meteorological factors. Among the articles included in this review, changing temperature is the most commonly studied variable. We did not find studies that measured barometric pressure, weather phenomena, or the effect of tornados. To develop effective strategies to protect subjects at risk, further studies are required.
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spelling doaj-art-4ac2c065a7004c75a75b08c6e7cfc7852025-08-20T02:38:05ZengWileyCanadian Respiratory Journal1198-22411916-72452019-01-01201910.1155/2019/34351033435103Effects of Meteorological Factors on Hospitalizations in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Systematic ReviewElnaz Bodaghkhani0Masoud Mahdavian1Cameron MacLellan2Alison Farrell3Shabnam Asghari4Ph.D. Candidate, Centre for Rural Health Studies, Clinical Epidemiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, CanadaMD, MSc, FACP, ABPM, FRCPC, Respirologist, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Barrie, Ontario, CanadaM.Sc. Candidate, Centre for Rural Health Studies, Clinical Epidemiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, CanadaMLIS, Public Services Librarian Health Sciences Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, CanadaMD, MPH, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Director of Centre for Rural Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, CanadaBackground. Environmental factors such as weather variables contribute to asthma exacerbation. The impact of meteorological factors on asthma-related hospital admissions (HAs) or emergency department visits (EDVs) has been assessed in the literature. We conducted a systematic review to establish a conclusion of whether these findings from the literature are consistent and generalizable or if they vary significantly by certain subgroups. Objective. This study aims to review the effect of meteorological variables on asthma HAs and EDVs in adults, to identify knowledge gaps and to highlight future research priorities. Method. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL. All studies published in English were screened and included if they met the eligibility criteria. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality of the studies and extracted the data. The available evidence was summarized and presented using a harvest plot. Results. Our initial search returned a total of 3887 articles. After screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, 16 studies were included. Thirty-one percent of the included studies (5/16) found that temperature was the only factor associated with asthma hospitalization or EDVs. Six studies (37%) found that both temperature and relative humidity were associated with HAs. Four studies (25%) identified thunderstorms as a possible factor associated with asthma hospitalization in adults. Conclusion. Our review suggests that HAs and EDVs due to asthma are associated with many meteorological factors. Among the articles included in this review, changing temperature is the most commonly studied variable. We did not find studies that measured barometric pressure, weather phenomena, or the effect of tornados. To develop effective strategies to protect subjects at risk, further studies are required.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/3435103
spellingShingle Elnaz Bodaghkhani
Masoud Mahdavian
Cameron MacLellan
Alison Farrell
Shabnam Asghari
Effects of Meteorological Factors on Hospitalizations in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review
Canadian Respiratory Journal
title Effects of Meteorological Factors on Hospitalizations in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review
title_full Effects of Meteorological Factors on Hospitalizations in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Effects of Meteorological Factors on Hospitalizations in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Meteorological Factors on Hospitalizations in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review
title_short Effects of Meteorological Factors on Hospitalizations in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review
title_sort effects of meteorological factors on hospitalizations in adult patients with asthma a systematic review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/3435103
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