The Effect of Climate Change on Referrals to Asthmatic Patients to Pasteur Hospital in Bam City

Introduction and Objectives. Increasing population and human activities through the excessive consumption of fossil fuels have increased air pollution, and its consequences include respiratory diseases, environmental impacts and climate fluctuations. In this study, we investigated the effect of climate change on referrals to asthmatic patients to hospital. Methods. This study is an ecological study, climatic data including temperature, temperature difference, relative humidity, rainfall and sunny hours from the Meteorological Station of Bam city during ۲۰۱۲- ۲۰۱۷, and the data of asthmatic patients were collected from Pasteur Hospital of Bam at desired statistical series. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS & R software. Results. The highest number of referrals to asthmatic patients to hospital were recorded in the winter months and the lowest in the summer months. The number of referrals to asthmatic patients to hospital in lags ۰, ۱, ۲–۷ has affected by temperature. The highest percentage of referrals to the hospital was seen in lags ۰ and ۱ at temperatures below ۱۰ and above ۳۵ ° C. The effect of temperature on referrals to hospital by lags ۸-۱۴ have decreased. Although sunny hours had a negative correlation with the number of asthmatic patients referrals to the hospital, but it has not been statistically significant. By increasing climatic variables of temperature difference, humidity and rainfall have increased the number of asthmatic patients referred to hospital. The number of asthmatic patients in lags ۲۲-۲۸ due to temperature difference have increased. By increasing humidity in lags ۲-۷ and ۲۲-۲۸, the number of asthmatic patients referred to hospital have increased and in lags ۸-۱۴ the number of them have decreased. Rainfall in lags ۸-۱۴ has affected the number of asthmatic patients. Conclusion. The number of referrals to asthmatic patients have had significant correlation with temperature, humidity and rainfall at a significant level P = ۰.۰۵. Predicting climate changes patterns, monitoring and implementing targeted interventions in related organizations will be effective in reducing the prevalence and referrals to asthmatic patients to the hospital.

Keywords:

Climate Change , Asthma Disease , Bam City , Climate Data