EDUCATION: URBANMAAP

Research Projects: Asthma

5. Investigation of the Seasonal Pattern of Asthma

Since we do not know what is responsible for the increase in asthma prevalence it is important to examine all of the information. In particular, the seasonal pattern of asthma attacks can provide important clues into the mechanisms responsible for the dramatic increase. Previous studies have found that hospital admissions for asthma increase in the fall/winter season. Kalkstein et al. analyzed the seasonal pattern of asthma admission in New York and summarized their results in the following figure that shows that asthma hospitalizations peak in late fall/winter. http://www.udel.edu/SynClim/ast.html

Studies from other places also suggest a seasonal pattern to asthma. An investigation of asthma in New Zealand suggests that asthma is more common during their summer months (our winter). http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1998/106p607-610hales/abstract.html. Similar results are reported for Australia http://www-das.uwyo.edu/~geerts/cwx/notes/chap15/asthma.html

Research Question:
In what season are asthma attacks most common?

Guiding Research Questions: (pick one).

1. Compare the response to the questions: ³How many asthma attacks did you have in each season?² and ³Check the season when your asthma attacks are most frequent.² Do they give the same result?
2. Are there regional differences in the seasonal response?
3. Use EPA data to examine seasonal changes in pollutants.
4. Use available pollen data to compare with seasonal variations in pollen.

Additional things to think about:

• How do your results compare with previous studies?
• Can you eliminate any mechanisms based on the seasonal pattern?

References:

• http://www.ejcc.org/releases/020128fact.html
• http://www.ejcc.org/releases/020128fact.html
• http://www.udel.edu/SynClim/ast.html
• http://hcs.harvard.edu/~weber/HomePage/Papers/AsthmaAndWeather/

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