title: Effect of daily temperature range on respiratory health in Argentina and its modification by impaired socio-economic conditions and PM10 exposures.
abstract: Epidemiological investigations regarding temperature influence on human health have focused on mortality rather than morbidity. In addition, most information comes from developed countries despite the increasing evidence that climate change will have devastating impacts on disadvantaged populations living in developing countries. In the present study, we assessed the impact of daily temperature range on upper and lower respiratory infections in Cordoba, Argentina, and explored the effect modification of socio-economic factors and influence of airborne particles We found that temperature range is a strong risk factor for admissions due to both upper and lower respiratory infections, particularly in elderly individuals, and that these effects are more pronounced in sub-populations with low education level or in poor living conditions. These results indicate that socio-economic factors are strong modifiers of the association between temperature variability and respiratory morbidity, thus they should be considered in risk assessments.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, CONICET and Chemistry Department, FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield, 1611, X5016 GCA, Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: hcarreras@com.uncor.edu.
authors.forename: Hebe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carreras
authors.affiliation: Exposure, Epidemiology and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanobetti
authors.affiliation: Exposure, Epidemiology and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koutrakis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001118:Argentina; D057231:Climate Change; D003906:Developing Countries; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Daily temperature range; Education; Morbidity; Respiratory infections; Socio-economic conditions