Cailin Conner

AZUHT-PRODUCTIONwarmup

A recent study in Washington state found that exposure to wildfire smoke increased the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular emergency department visits, particularly among children and younger to middle-aged adults.
Wildfires are increasingly prevalent in western North America due to changing climate conditions, posing significant public health threats. While the health impacts of wildfire smoke are well-documented, a recent study highlighted the specific effects of wildfire smoke on emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
By analyzing syndromic surveillance data from multiple EDs in Washington state, researchers identified a clear association between exposure to wildfire smoke and increased ED visits for respiratory and cardiovascular ailments. The study was published in Environment Research: Health.
The study focused on all-cause respiratory and cardiovascular ED visits in Washington state utilizing a time-stratified case-crossover design. The researchers found compelling evidence of the adverse effects of wildfire smoke on these health outcomes.
The study revealed a heightened risk of respiratory conditions following exposure to wildfire smoke. Specifically, there was a statistically significant increase in asthma-related ED visits immediately after exposure to wildfire smoke, as well as in the 5 days that followed. The odds ratio (OR) for asthma visits at lag 0 was 1.13 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.17). The odds ratios for respiratory visits also remained consistently elevated in the 5 days after initial exposure.
While results were less conclusive for cardiovascular visits, the study identified an increased risk several days after exposure to wildfire smoke. The odds ratios for cardiovascular visits were not significant immediately after exposure but showed an upward trend in the following days. This identification suggests a delayed response to wildfire smoke among individuals seeking medical attention for cardiovascular issues.
The study identified varying levels of risk based on different age groups in the stratified analyses. The odds of respiratory visits were elevated among individuals aged 19-64, while asthma visits were more common among those aged 5-64. The risk estimates for cardiovascular visits varied across different age groups, indicating that age plays a role in susceptibility to the health effects of wildfire smoke.
In conclusion, this study reinforces the importance of addressing the health consequences of wildfires. By employing syndromic surveillance data and a case-crossover design, researchers demonstrated the association between wildfire smoke exposure and increased respiratory and cardiovascular ED visits.
“This study provides evidence of an increased risk of respiratory ED visits immediately following initial wildfire smoke exposure, and increased risk of cardiovascular ED visits several days following initial exposure,” the authors wrote, “These increased risks are seen particularly among children and younger to middle-aged adults.”
Source: <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2752-5309/acd3a1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Environment Research: Health</a>

Lou Portero

Leaky Gut Linked to Faster Aging and Inflammation in HIV+ People

New Test Shows Potential For Earlier Detection of  Women at High Risk for HPV

Women's Health

Rob Dillard

Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Black and Hispanic Breast Cancer Survivors

Breast Cancer

Latest News

Wildfire Smoke Impacts Respiratory and Cardiovascular Emergency Department Visits

Asthma

Exposure to wildfire smoke in Washington state has been found to raise the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular emergency department visits.