As temperatures soar, the plight for children battling asthma intensifies, leading to a surge in hospital visits, a new study reveals.
Traditionally, asthma symptoms like breathlessness and wheezing have been synonymous with colder weather. However, a recent report from NewScientist suggests a shift in this pattern as scorching temperatures take center stage.
Morgan Ye and her team at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), delved into electronic health records from UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals to unravel the correlation between hot weather and asthma exacerbations.
Analyzing data spanning from 2017 to 2020, the researchers scrutinized asthma hospitalizations alongside the patients’ residential addresses. Leveraging temperature records sourced from the PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University, they meticulously mapped out the impact of rising mercury levels.
Their study, published in a recent journal, meticulously categorized heatwaves in myriad ways, exploring various temperature thresholds. Whether it was the top 99%, 97.5%, or 95% of recorded temperatures, the researchers left no stone unturned in their quest for understanding.
The findings were stark. Heatwaves, defined across these multiple thresholds, were consistently associated with a staggering 19% increase in the likelihood of asthma-related hospital admissions among children.
This research underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable populations, particularly children, against the adverse effects of climate change. As summers grow hotter, ensuring adequate support and resources for asthma management becomes paramount in mitigating the toll on young lives.
