Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits in Texas: Associations with Allergenic Pollen and Other Seasonal Triggers
Year: 2020
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background/Aim: Asthma is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States and is a substantial contributor to emergency department (ED) visits. Seasonal triggers of asthma attacks include pollen and influenza, but little is known about their epidemiological importance in Texas. Here we describe associations between asthma-related ED visits in Texas and seasonally important asthma triggers including several pollen types and influenza. Methods: We obtained all asthma-related ED visits in Texas from September 2015 to December 2017. Population-based incidence rates (PBIR) were estimated using population estimates from census data as the denominators and influenza data was gathered from the CDC. Analyses were restricted to pediatric populations (age 5-17y) in the six counties where pollen concentration measurements were available from National Allergy Bureau monitoring stations. Generalized linear models were used to model associations between PBIR and daily pollen concentrations of Cupressaceae (primarily Juniperus), Quercus (oak), and Ambrosia (ragweed), and influenza. Results: The rate of asthma-related ED visits were highest in Dallas (0.122 cases per 10,000 people) and San Antonio (0.118 cases per 10,000 people) and lowest in Houston (0.061 cases per 10,000 people). Airborne pollen concentrations also varied regionally; for example, across the study period, average Cupressaceae pollen concentrations in San Antonio were 283 pollen grains/m3, whereas in Dallas they were significantly lower at 29 pollen grains/m3 (p < 0.001). There were significant associations between PBIR and each pollen type including: Cupressaceae (p < 0.05), Quercus (p < 0.05), and Ambrosia (p < 0.001) and flu (p < 0.001). Conclusions: PBIR varied substantially across Texas as did airborne concentrations of several pollen types. These results suggest that the epidemiological importance of pollen varies across the state.
Source: ISEE Conference Abstracts
Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3168616140