Abstract
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.
Highlights
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition which is characterized by reversible air flow obstruction [1]. ose affected by this condition may present symptoms such as wheezing, breathlessness, coughing, and chest tightness. is chronic condition is highly prevalent, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 300 million people around the world have asthma; it is estimated that 100 million more people will be affected by 2025 [2]
While the etiology of asthma is currently unknown, it is believed that factors such as genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors contribute to asthma exacerbation which may lead to hospital admissions (HAs) [3]
Exposure of interest includes any weather variables reported in the study. e Control groups are adults with asthma who were not exposed to weather variables, and the Outcome is any admission to hospital units or emergency departments as reported in the manuscripts
Summary
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition which is characterized by reversible air flow obstruction [1]. ose affected by this condition may present symptoms such as wheezing, breathlessness, coughing, and chest tightness. is chronic condition is highly prevalent, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 300 million people around the world have asthma; it is estimated that 100 million more people will be affected by 2025 [2]. Many studies including systematic reviews assessed the effect of pollen, allergens, and air pollutions on asthma hospitalization. One theory suggests that water loss in airways during cold conditions causes inflammation that leads to asthma attacks [2]. Some studies show that changes among weather variables can lead to airway inflammation among people with asthma [3]. Environmental factors such as weather variables contribute to asthma exacerbation. Is 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. To develop effective strategies to protect subjects at risk, further studies are required
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