Effects of Asian dust storm events on daily admissions for asthma in Taipei, Taiwan.
In spring, windblown dust storms originating in the deserts of Mongolia and China make their way to Taipei city. These occurrences are known as Asian dust storm (ADS) events. The objective of this study was to assess the possible associations of ADS on the hospital asthma admissions of residents in Taipei, Taiwan, during the period 1996-2001. We identified 54 dust storm episodes, which were classified as index days. Daily asthma admissions on the index days were compared with admissions on the comparison days. We selected two comparison days for each index day, 7 days before the index days and 7 days after the index days. The effects of dust storms on asthma admissions were prominent 2 days after the event (8%). However, the association was not statistically significant. There may not have been enough power to detect associations resulting from the inadequate sample size of asthma admissions on ADS events days. However, it seems worthwhile to pay more attention to the ADS events and health in the future.
Yang
Chun-Yuh
CY
Institute of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. chunyuh@kmu.edu.tw
Tsai
Shang-Shyue
SS
Chang
Chih-Ching
CC
Ho
Shu-Chen
SC
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000397:Air Pollution; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003889:Desert Climate; D004391:Dust; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014887:Weather; D014919:Wind
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust