Asian Dust and Pediatric Emergency Department Visits Due to Bronchial Asthma and Respiratory Diseases in Nagasaki, Japan

Overview

Journal J Epidemiol

Specialty Public Health

Date 2016 May 17

PMID 27180931

Citations 14

Authors

Takahiro Nakamura

Masahiro Hashizume

Kayo Ueda

Atsushi Shimizu

Ayano Takeuchi

Tatsuhiko Kubo

Kunio Hashimoto

Hiroyuki Moriuchi

Hiroshi Odajima

Tasuku Kitajima

Kasumi Tashiro

Kunio Tomimasu

Yuji Nishiwaki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The adverse health effects of Asian dust (AD) on the respiratory system of children are unclear. We hypothesized that AD events may lead to increased visits by children to emergency medical centers due to bronchial asthma and respiratory diseases, including bronchial asthma.

Methods: We used anonymized data on children receiving primary emergency treatment at Nagasaki Municipal Primary Emergency Medical Center, Japan between March 2010 and September 2013. We used Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data to assess AD exposure and performed time-stratified case-crossover analyses to examine the association between AD exposure and emergency department visits. The main analysis was done with data collected from March through May each year.

Results: The total number of emergency department visits during the study period was 756 for bronchial asthma and 5421 for respiratory diseases, and the number of "AD days" was 47. In school children, AD events at lag day 3 and lag day 4 were associated with increased emergency department visits due to bronchial asthma, with odds ratios of 1.837 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.212-2.786) and 1.829 (95% CI, 1.179-2.806), respectively. AD events were significantly associated with respiratory diseases among preschool children at lag day 0, lag day 1, and lag day 2, with odds ratios of 1.244 (95% CI, 1.128-1.373), 1.314 (95% CI, 1.189-1.452), and 1.273 (95% CI, 1.152-1.408), respectively. These associations were also significant when the results were adjusted for meteorological variables and other air pollutants.

Conclusions: The study findings suggested that AD exposure increases emergency department visits by children.

Citing Articles

Dust Storms and Emergency Department Visits in 3 Southwestern States Using NWS Storm Reports.

Zheng X, Chang H, Ebelt S, DSouza R, Hohsfield K, Crooks J JAMA Netw Open. 2025; 8(2):e2457666.

PMID: 39937479 PMC: 11822549. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57666.

Respiratory function declines in children with asthma associated with chemical species of fine particulate matter (PM) in Nagasaki, Japan.

Kim Y, Park E, Ng C, Chung Y, Hashimoto K, Tashiro K Environ Health. 2021; 20(1):110.

PMID: 34670555 PMC: 8529805. DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00796-x.

Global Health Impacts of Dust Storms: A Systematic Review.

Aghababaeian H, Ostadtaghizadeh A, Ardalan A, Asgary A, Akbary M, Yekaninejad M Environ Health Insights. 2021; 15:11786302211018390.

PMID: 34103932 PMC: 8150667. DOI: 10.1177/11786302211018390.

Seasonal and monthly variation in peak expiratory flow rate in children with asthma.

Kim M, Kim Y, Lee J, Yang H, Kim H, Ahn S Asia Pac Allergy. 2021; 11(2):e19.

PMID: 34007829 PMC: 8103013. DOI: 10.5415/apallergy.2021.11.e19.

Associations Between Dust Storms and Intensive Care Unit Admissions in the United States, 2000-2015.

Rublee C, Sorensen C, Lemery J, Wade T, Sams E, Hilborn E Geohealth. 2020; 4(8):e2020GH000260.

PMID: 32783014 PMC: 7411550. DOI: 10.1029/2020GH000260.

References

Ichinose T, Yoshida S, Hiyoshi K, Sadakane K, Takano H, Nishikawa M . The effects of microbial materials adhered to Asian sand dust on allergic lung inflammation. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2008; 55(3):348-57. DOI: 10.1007/s00244-007-9128-8. View

Ueda K, Nitta H, Odajima H . The effects of weather, air pollutants, and Asian dust on hospitalization for asthma in Fukuoka. Environ Health Prev Med. 2011; 15(6):350-7. PMC: 2955906. DOI: 10.1007/s12199-010-0150-5. View

Vanos J . Children's health and vulnerability in outdoor microclimates: A comprehensive review. Environ Int. 2014; 76:1-15. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.016. View

Nakamura T, Hashizume M, Ueda K, Kubo T, Shimizu A, Okamura T . The relationship between Asian dust events and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Japan. J Epidemiol. 2015; 25(4):289-96. PMC: 4375283. DOI: 10.2188/jea.JE20140179. View

Kim S, Yoon S, Kim J, Kang J, Sugimoto N . Asian dust event observed in Seoul, Korea, during 29-31 May 2008: analysis of transport and vertical distribution of dust particles from lidar and surface measurements. Sci Total Environ. 2010; 408(7):1707-18. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.12.018. View

Maclure M . The case-crossover design: a method for studying transient effects on the risk of acute events. Am J Epidemiol. 1991; 133(2):144-53. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115853. View

Yang C, Tsai S, Chang C, Ho S . Effects of Asian dust storm events on daily admissions for asthma in Taipei, Taiwan. Inhal Toxicol. 2005; 17(14):817-21. DOI: 10.1080/08958370500241254. View

Chan C, Chuang K, Chen W, Chang W, Lee C, Peng C . Increasing cardiopulmonary emergency visits by long-range transported Asian dust storms in Taiwan. Environ Res. 2007; 106(3):393-400. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2007.09.006. View

Kanatani K, Ito I, Al-Delaimy W, Adachi Y, Mathews W, Ramsdell J . Desert dust exposure is associated with increased risk of asthma hospitalization in children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010; 182(12):1475-81. PMC: 3159090. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201002-0296OC. View

10.

Maclure M, Mittleman M . Should we use a case-crossover design?. Annu Rev Public Health. 2000; 21:193-221. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.21.1.193. View

11.

Hashizume M, Ueda K, Nishiwaki Y, Michikawa T, Onozuka D . Health effects of Asian dust events: a review of the literature. Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2010; 65(3):413-21. DOI: 10.1265/jjh.65.413. View

12.

Yamazaki S, Shima M, Yoda Y, Oka K, Kurosaka F, Shimizu S . Association of ambient air pollution and meteorological factors with primary care visits at night due to asthma attack. Environ Health Prev Med. 2013; 18(5):401-6. PMC: 3773095. DOI: 10.1007/s12199-013-0339-5. View

13.

Wang C, Chen C, Lin C . The threat of Asian dust storms on asthma patients: a population-based study in Taiwan. Glob Public Health. 2014; 9(9):1040-52. DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2014.951871. View

14.

Patel M, Miller R . Air pollution and childhood asthma: recent advances and future directions. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2009; 21(2):235-42. PMC: 2740858. DOI: 10.1097/mop.0b013e3283267726. View

15.

Yu H, Chien L, Yang C . Asian dust storm elevates children's respiratory health risks: a spatiotemporal analysis of children's clinic visits across Taipei (Taiwan). PLoS One. 2012; 7(7):e41317. PMC: 3407226. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041317. View

16.

Ueda K, Shimizu A, Nitta H, Inoue K . Long-range transported Asian Dust and emergency ambulance dispatches. Inhal Toxicol. 2012; 24(12):858-67. DOI: 10.3109/08958378.2012.724729. View

17.

Kang J, Keller J, Chen C, Lin H . Asian dust storm events are associated with an acute increase in pneumonia hospitalization. Ann Epidemiol. 2012; 22(4):257-63. DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2012.02.008. View

18.

Chien L, Yang C, Yu H . Estimated effects of Asian dust storms on spatiotemporal distributions of clinic visits for respiratory diseases in Taipei children (Taiwan). Environ Health Perspect. 2012; 120(8):1215-20. PMC: 3440078. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1104417. View

19.

Yu H, Yang C, Chien L . Spatial vulnerability under extreme events: a case of Asian dust storm's effects on children's respiratory health. Environ Int. 2013; 54:35-44. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.01.004. View

20.

Hong C, Lee K, Kim Y, Iwasaka Y . LIDAR measurements of the vertical aerosol profile and optical depth during the ACE-Asia 2001 IOP, at Gosan, Jeju Island, Korea. Environ Monit Assess. 2004; 92(1-3):43-57. DOI: 10.1023/b:emas.0000014508.76989.a5. View