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Respiratory symptoms following wildfire smoke exposure: airway size as a susceptibility factor

Mirabelli, M. C. and Künzli, N. and Avol, E. and Gilliland, F. D. and Gauderman, W. J. and McConnell, R. and Peters, J. M.. (2009) Respiratory symptoms following wildfire smoke exposure: airway size as a susceptibility factor. Epidemiology, Vol. 20, H. 3. pp. 451-459.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5843309

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Associations between exposure to smoke during wildfire events and respiratory symptoms are well documented, but the role of airway size remains unclear. We conducted this analysis to assess whether small airway size modifies these relationships. METHODS: We analyzed data from 465 nonasthmatic 16- to 19-year-old participants in the Children's Health Study. Following an outbreak of wildfires in 2003, each student completed a questionnaire about smoke exposure, dry and wet cough, wheezing, and eye symptoms. We used log-binomial regression to evaluate associations between smoke exposure and fire-related health symptoms, and to assess modification of the associations by airway size. As a marker of airway size, we used the ratio of maximum midexpiratory flow to forced vital capacity. RESULTS: Forty percent (186 of 465) of this population (including students from 11 of 12 surveyed communities) reported the odor of wildfire smoke at home. We observed increased respiratory and eye symptoms with increasing frequency of wildfire smoke exposure. Associations between smoke exposure and having any of 4 respiratory symptoms were stronger in the lowest quartile of the lung function ratio (eg, fire smoke 6+ days: prevalence ratio: 3.8; 95% confidence interval (CI = 2.0-7.2), compared with the remaining quartiles (fire smoke 6+ days: prevalence ratio = 2.0; 1.2-3.2). Analysis of individual symptoms suggests that this interaction may be strongest for effects on wheezing. CONCLUSIONS: Small airways may serve as a marker of susceptibility to effects of wildfire smoke. Future studies should investigate the role of airway size for more common exposures and should include persons with asthma
Faculties and Departments:03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Public Health > Sozial- und Präventivmedizin > Air Pollution and Health (Künzli)
09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) > Former Units within Swiss TPH > Air Pollution and Health (Künzli)
UniBasel Contributors:Künzli, Nino
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISSN:1044-3983
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:24 May 2013 09:22
Deposited On:24 May 2013 09:06

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