title: Meteorological parameters and pollutants on asthma exacerbation in Bangalore, India - an ecological retrospective time-series study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Literature has shown a significant association between asthma exacerbations and pollutant levels during that time. There is very limited evidence in India, especially Bangalore, for impacts of meteorological changes and pollution on asthma hospital admissions in adults. The objective was to study the impact of air pollution and meteorological parameters on asthma exacerbation in Bangalore.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study quantitatively analyzed the relation between acute exacerbations of asthma and related admissions to the hospital with the air pollution and the meteorological conditions during that time. Data regarding the daily hospital admissions in about 13 tertiary care centers in Bangalore, Karnataka and air pollutant levels and the meteorological conditions prevailing during each day over a year were collected from the Karnataka State pollution control board and meteorology departments, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An average daily asthma admission of 4.84±2.91, with clear seasonal variation and autocorrelations between meteorological parameters and pollutants was observed. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that average temperature (p=0.005) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (p=0.034) were the two factors that were affecting the number of admissions. Quasi-poisson regression analysis using multi-pollutants and meteorological variables showed that particulate matter and NO2 had significant lag effect for up to 5 days (p<0.05) and rainfall for 1 day (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Bangalore city, levels of NO2 and particulate matter, temperature, rainfall, and season increase asthma exacerbations.
authors.forename: Kirthana U
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6150-5975
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Kunikullaya
authors.forename: Ambarish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vijayaraghava
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asha
authors.forename: Radhika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kunnavil
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: MuraliMohan
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055669:Ecological and Environmental Phenomena; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D065186:Interrupted Time Series Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter