ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS (AEROALLERGENS, AIR-POLLUTION, AND WEATHER) AND ASTHMA EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS TO A HOSPITAL IN MEXICO-CITY
I. Rosas et al., ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS (AEROALLERGENS, AIR-POLLUTION, AND WEATHER) AND ASTHMA EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS TO A HOSPITAL IN MEXICO-CITY, Allergy, 53(4), 1998, pp. 394-401
There have been several studies of the relationships between environme
ntal factors, particularly air pollution, and attacks of asthma. Most
of these studies have ignored the potential confounding effects of aer
oallergens such as pollens and fungal spores. We report a statistical
analysis of the relationships between emergency admissions for asthma
to a hospital in Mexico City and daily average airborne concentrations
of pollen, fungal spores, air pollutants (O-3, NO2, SO2, and particul
ates) and weather factors. Asthma admissions had a seasonal pattern wi
th more during the wet season (May-October) than the dry season (Novem
ber-April). There were few statistical associations between asthma adm
issions and air pollutants for the three age groups studied (children
under 15 years, adults, and seniors [adults over 59 years]) in either
season. Grass pollen was associated with child acid adult admissions f
or both the wet and dry seasons, and fungal spores were associated wit
h child admissions during both the wet and dry seasons. The analysis w
as done with environmental data averaged over the day of admission and
the 2 previous days. Our results suggest that aeroallergens may be st
atistically associated more strongly with asthma hospital admissions t
han air pollutants and may act as confounding factors in epidemiologic
studies.