The impact of prolonged landscape fire smoke exposure on women with asthma in Australia

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Research

Vanessa M. McDonald¹  Graeme R. Zosky²  Jay C. Horvat³  Elizabeth G. Holliday⁴  Tesfalidet Beyene⁵  Adam M. Collison⁵  Megan E. Jensen⁵  Vanessa E. Murphy⁵  Peter G. Gibson⁶  Anne E. Vertigan⁷  Joerg Mattes⁸  Joe Van Buskirk⁹  Edward Jegasothy⁹  Geoffrey G. Morgan⁹  Ivan Hanigan⁹ 

[1] Asthma and Breathing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, 2305, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia;Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia;School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Asthma and Breathing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, 2305, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Asthma and Breathing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, 2305, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Asthma and Breathing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, 2305, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Department of Speech Pathology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Asthma and Breathing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, 2305, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;John Hunter Hospital and John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Sydney School of Public Health, and University Centre for Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia;

关键词: Asthma;    Australia;    Landscape fire;    Bushfire;    Pregnant and/or breastfeeding women;    Mental health;    Symptoms;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12884-022-05231-8

 received in 2022-08-24, accepted in 2022-11-21,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLittle is known about the physical and mental health impact of exposure to landscape fire smoke in women with asthma. This study examined the health impacts and information-seeking behaviours of women with asthma exposed to the 2019/2020 Australian fires, including women who were pregnant.MethodsWomen with asthma were recruited from the Breathing for Life Trial in Australia. Following the landscape fire exposure period, self-reported data were collected regarding symptoms (respiratory and non-respiratory), asthma exacerbations, wellbeing, quality of life, information seeking, and landscape fire smoke exposure mitigation strategies. Participants’ primary residential location and fixed site monitoring was used to geolocate and estimate exposure to landscape fire-related fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5).ResultsThe survey was completed by 81 pregnant, 70 breastfeeding and 232 non-pregnant and non-breastfeeding women with asthma. Participants had a median daily average of 17 μg/m3 PM2.5 and 105 μg/m3 peak PM2.5 exposure over the fire period (October 2019 to February 2020). Over 80% of participants reported non-respiratory and respiratory symptoms during the fire period and 41% reported persistent symptoms. Over 82% reported asthma symptoms and exacerbations of asthma during the fire period. Half the participants sought advice from a health professional for their symptoms. Most (97%) kept windows/doors shut when inside and 94% stayed indoors to minimise exposure to landscape fire smoke. Over two in five (43%) participants reported that their capacity to participate in usual activities was reduced due to prolonged smoke exposure during the fire period. Participants reported greater anxiety during the fire period than after the fire period (mean (SD) = 53(13) versus 39 (13); p < 0.001). Two in five (38%) pregnant participants reported having concerns about the effect of fire events on their pregnancy.ConclusionProlonged landscape fire smoke exposure during the 2019/2020 Australian fire period had a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of women with asthma, including pregnant women with asthma. This was despite most women taking actions to minimise exposure to landscape fire smoke. Effective and consistent public health messaging is needed during landscape fire events to guard the health of women with asthma.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Crown 2022

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