Outdoor Heat Increases Respiratory Hospitalization Risk in Elderly

Summary: In new studies, evidence of outdoor heat exposure increases the risk of COPD and respiratory system infections in the elderly. The study was based on data of emergency respiratory hospitalizations of people 65 or older from 1999-2008, along with weather and pollution measurements. The study found that for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit increase, there was a 4.3% increase in respiratory hospitalizations. Similarly, COPD hospitalizations increased by 4.7% and they were typically higher in mild countries. The reasons why this is the case isn't fully known according to the articles content, but senior author Dr. Roger D. Peng, associate professor in the Department of Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is very sure that there is a correlation. "Our study provides clear and consistent evidence of a link between outdoor heat and hospitalization for respiratory disease in the elderly. As the prevalence of respiratory conditions and the age of the population continue to increase and global temperatures continue to rise as a result of climate change, the risk of heat-related respiratory disease is also likely to increase."

Relevance: In class, we learned about the respiratory system. We learned about COPD and how COPD makes it harder to breathe. This article relates to our class because it relates to the pathological diseases we learned in class. Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema are two forms of COPD, which is a subject of this article. COPD diseases narrow the airways of the lungs, making it harder to breathe. These airways are primarily the bronchi and the bronchioles. The narrowing of these airways limits air flow to the alveoli, reducing the efficiency of gas exchange.

No author
March 8 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130308093429.htm