Association of diurnal temperature range and childhood asthma: a population-based cross-sectional study in a Tropical City, China

Abstract Background Climate change has significantly impacted the diurnal temperature range (DTR), particularly in tropical regions of China, where DTR fluctuations are more frequent. While previous studies have primarily focused on the link between short-term DTR exposure and childhood asthma, ther...

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Main Authors: Wangyang Gu, Yabin Hu, Qinpeng Li, Huike Feng, Yihao Xue, Linling Xu, Yang Chen, Yushi Zhou, Shilu Tong, Shijian Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22470-4
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author Wangyang Gu
Yabin Hu
Qinpeng Li
Huike Feng
Yihao Xue
Linling Xu
Yang Chen
Yushi Zhou
Shilu Tong
Shijian Liu
author_facet Wangyang Gu
Yabin Hu
Qinpeng Li
Huike Feng
Yihao Xue
Linling Xu
Yang Chen
Yushi Zhou
Shilu Tong
Shijian Liu
author_sort Wangyang Gu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Climate change has significantly impacted the diurnal temperature range (DTR), particularly in tropical regions of China, where DTR fluctuations are more frequent. While previous studies have primarily focused on the link between short-term DTR exposure and childhood asthma, there is limited information on the long-term effects from large-scale studies. Methods In 2022, a cross-sectional survey involving 9,130 children aged 2–10 years was conducted using stratified cluster random sampling in tropical Sanya, Hainan Province, China. Data on demographics, and asthma symptoms were collected using the validated International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Temperature, precipitation and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were obtained from remote sensing satellite. A generalized linear model (GLM) was employed to analyze the association between DTR exposure and asthma, and stratified analyses were conducted based on environmental and lifestyle factors. Results The prevalence of childhood asthma was 7.57%, with the annual average DTR ranging from 5.15℃ to 7.26℃. After adjusting for potential confounders, each 1℃ increase in DTR was associated with a 65.9% higher risk of asthma (95% CI: 1.058, 2.602). Stratified analyses indicated that the impact of DTR on asthma risk was stronger among children living in areas with higher temperatures, higher precipitation, lower vegetation coverage (measured by NDVI), as well as those who were not breastfed, exposed to passive smoking, or whose mothers had pets during pregnancy. Conclusions In Sanya, increased annual DTR was significantly associated with a higher odds of childhood asthma, and this effect was influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors. Therefore, public health strategies could mitigate childhood asthma risk associated with DTR through urban greening, advocating for breastfeeding, reducing secondhand smoke, and avoiding pet ownership during pregnancy.
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spelling doaj-art-c42312272de24bbf989ed61e9405387f2025-08-20T02:17:10ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-04-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-22470-4Association of diurnal temperature range and childhood asthma: a population-based cross-sectional study in a Tropical City, ChinaWangyang Gu0Yabin Hu1Qinpeng Li2Huike Feng3Yihao Xue4Linling Xu5Yang Chen6Yushi Zhou7Shilu Tong8Shijian Liu9School of Public Health, Hainan Medical UniversityKey Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Fudan UniversitySchool of Public Health, Hainan Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Hainan Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, Hainan Medical UniversitySanya Women and Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Hainan Medical UniversitySanya Women and Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Hainan Medical UniversitySanya Women and Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Hainan Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of TechnologySchool of Public Health, Hainan Medical UniversityAbstract Background Climate change has significantly impacted the diurnal temperature range (DTR), particularly in tropical regions of China, where DTR fluctuations are more frequent. While previous studies have primarily focused on the link between short-term DTR exposure and childhood asthma, there is limited information on the long-term effects from large-scale studies. Methods In 2022, a cross-sectional survey involving 9,130 children aged 2–10 years was conducted using stratified cluster random sampling in tropical Sanya, Hainan Province, China. Data on demographics, and asthma symptoms were collected using the validated International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Temperature, precipitation and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were obtained from remote sensing satellite. A generalized linear model (GLM) was employed to analyze the association between DTR exposure and asthma, and stratified analyses were conducted based on environmental and lifestyle factors. Results The prevalence of childhood asthma was 7.57%, with the annual average DTR ranging from 5.15℃ to 7.26℃. After adjusting for potential confounders, each 1℃ increase in DTR was associated with a 65.9% higher risk of asthma (95% CI: 1.058, 2.602). Stratified analyses indicated that the impact of DTR on asthma risk was stronger among children living in areas with higher temperatures, higher precipitation, lower vegetation coverage (measured by NDVI), as well as those who were not breastfed, exposed to passive smoking, or whose mothers had pets during pregnancy. Conclusions In Sanya, increased annual DTR was significantly associated with a higher odds of childhood asthma, and this effect was influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors. Therefore, public health strategies could mitigate childhood asthma risk associated with DTR through urban greening, advocating for breastfeeding, reducing secondhand smoke, and avoiding pet ownership during pregnancy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22470-4ClimateDiurnal temperature rangeAsthmaTropical regionsChildren
spellingShingle Wangyang Gu
Yabin Hu
Qinpeng Li
Huike Feng
Yihao Xue
Linling Xu
Yang Chen
Yushi Zhou
Shilu Tong
Shijian Liu
Association of diurnal temperature range and childhood asthma: a population-based cross-sectional study in a Tropical City, China
BMC Public Health
Climate
Diurnal temperature range
Asthma
Tropical regions
Children
title Association of diurnal temperature range and childhood asthma: a population-based cross-sectional study in a Tropical City, China
title_full Association of diurnal temperature range and childhood asthma: a population-based cross-sectional study in a Tropical City, China
title_fullStr Association of diurnal temperature range and childhood asthma: a population-based cross-sectional study in a Tropical City, China
title_full_unstemmed Association of diurnal temperature range and childhood asthma: a population-based cross-sectional study in a Tropical City, China
title_short Association of diurnal temperature range and childhood asthma: a population-based cross-sectional study in a Tropical City, China
title_sort association of diurnal temperature range and childhood asthma a population based cross sectional study in a tropical city china
topic Climate
Diurnal temperature range
Asthma
Tropical regions
Children
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22470-4
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