Impact of urban atmospheric environment on hospital admissions in the elderly

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the impact of intra-urban atmospheric conditions on circulatory and respiratory diseases in elder adults. METHODS:Cross-sectional study based on data from 33,212 hospital admissions in adults over 60 years in the city of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, from 2003 to 2007. The association between atmospheric variables from Congonhas airport and bioclimatic index, Physiological Equivalent Temperature, was analyzed according to the district's socioenvironmental profi le. Descriptive statistical analysis and regression models were used. RESULTS:There was an increase in hospital admissions due to circulatory diseases as average and lowest temperatures decreased. The likelihood of being admitted to the hospital increased by 12% with 1 o C decrease in the bioclimatic index and with 1 o C increase in the highest temperatures in the group with lower socioenvironmental conditions. The risk of admission due to respiratory diseases increased with inadequate air quality in districts with higher socioenvironmental conditions. CONCLUSIONS:The associations between morbidity and climate variables and the comfort index varied in different groups and diseases. Lower and higher temperatures increased the risk of hospital admission in the elderly. Districts with lower socioenvironmental conditions showed greater adverse health impacts.

Indoor air quality, ventilation and respiratory health in elderly residents living in nursing homes in Europe

“…A specific effect of low temperature is consistent with the fact that cold can be responsible for bronchial hyperresponsiveness [33]. However, according to the literature, at the population level both low and high temperatures may increase the risk of hospital admissions in the elderly [34]. Countries with lower socio-environmental conditions where extreme temperature conditions can be observed showed greater adverse health impacts [34].…”

“…However, according to the literature, at the population level both low and high temperatures may increase the risk of hospital admissions in the elderly [34]. Countries with lower socio-environmental conditions where extreme temperature conditions can be observed showed greater adverse health impacts [34]. Relative humidity was inversely associated with wheeze in the past year and usual cough in our study, which is not consistent with previous literature showing that humidity is a well-known risk factor for asthma, wheezing and asthma-like symptoms in the long term [35,36]; however, in an animal model humidity did not influence the position of the dose-response curve to methacholine in the short term [37].…”

Summer thermal comfort in Russian big cities (1966-2015)

“…Another example of using this index with RayMan is the study based on the data analysis of 33,212 hospitalizations among people over 60 years old in São Paulo, Brazil between 2003 and 2007. (Silva & Ribeiro, 2012). The results of the study showed the increase in the probability of hospitalization among the group of people in unsatisfactory socio-economic conditions by 12% with the increase in the value of the bioclimatic index by 10°C.…”

Effects of air pollution caused by sugarcane burning in Western São Paulo on the cardiovascular system

“…Importantly, regional exposure to air pollutants, even in the short-term or in response to low concentrations, is strongly associated with poor health outcomes 22 . Climatic factors, such as thermal temperature, may amplify this response, since hotter weather has been considered a causative factor for increased cardiovascular-related hospitalization episodes in developed 12,20 and developing countries 2 .…”