Impact of temperature variability on childhood allergic rhinitis in a subtropical city of China

BMC Public Health

Hong Su¹  Jian Cheng²  Desheng Zhao³  Li Ling⁴  Xu Wang⁴  Hong Ni⁴ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China;Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China;School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia;Department of Medical Affairs, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, Anhui, China;Department of Science and Education, Children’s Hospital of Anhui Medical University (Anhui Provincial Children’s Hospital), No.39, Wangjiang East Road, 230032, Hefei, Anhui Province, China;

关键词: Temperature variability;    Childhood;    Allergic rhinitis;    Subtropical city;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-020-09531-6

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMany studies have shown an association of childhood respiratory diseases with short-term temperature variability such as diurnal temperature range (DTR) and temperature change between two neighboring days (TCN). However, the impact of temperature variability on allergic rhinitis (AR) has not been investigated so far. This study sought to evaluate the short-term effect of temperature variability (i.e., TCN and DTR) on AR, as well as to identify vulnerable subpopulations.MethodWe collected daily data on emergency room visits and outpatients for AR and weather variables in Hefei, China during 2014–2016. A distributed lag non-linear model that controlled for long-term trend and seasonality, mean temperature, relative humidity, day of week was used to fit the associations of AR with DTR and TCN. Stratified analyses by age, sex and occupation were also performed.ResultsDuring the study period, there were a total of 53,538 cases and the average values of DTR and TCN were 8.4 °C (range: 1.0 °C to 21.2 °C) and 0 °C (range: − 12.2 °C to 5.9 °C), respectively. While we did not observe an adverse effect of DTR on AR, TCN was significantly associated with increased risk of AR. Specifically, a large temperature drop between two adjacent days (3.8 °C, 5th percentile of TCN) has a delayed and short-lasting effect on AR, with the estimated relative risk of 1.02 (95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 1.04) at lag 12. Moreover, boys and children older than 15 years seemed to be more vulnerable to the effect of TCN.ConclusionsThis study provided evidence of an adverse effect of large temperature drops between two adjacent days on childhood AR. Attention paid to boys and older children may help prevent AR attacks.

【 授权许可】

CC BY