Citation

Resnick A, Woods B, Krapfl H, Toth B. J. Public Health Manag. Pract. 2015; 21(Suppl 2): S55-S61.

Affiliation

New Mexico Department of Health, Epidemiology and Response Division, Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau (Messrs Resnick and Woods, Ms Krapfl, and Dr Toth), Asthma Control Program (Mr Resnick, and Ms Krapfl), Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (Mr Woods, Ms Krapfl, and Dr Toth), and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PHH.0000000000000160

PMID

25621447

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between PM2.5 levels and emergency department (ED) visits for selected health outcomes in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during the Wallow fire of 2011.

DESIGN: Measurements of 24-hour average concentrations of PM2.5 obtained from the City of Albuquerque were used to calculate wildfire smoke exposure in Albuquerque. Daily ED visits were collected by the New Mexico Department of Health from individual nonfederal licensed facilities in the Albuquerque area. Poisson regression was used to assess the relationship between ED visits for selected respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and varying levels of PM2.5 exposure. SETTING: Albuquerque, New Mexico. PARTICIPANTS: Patients visiting an ED for select conditions before, during, and after the wildfire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Relative increase in ED visits for selected conditions during the wildfire period.

RESULTS: Analysis of PM2.5 exposure data and ED visits in Albuquerque before and during the Wallow fire indicated that compared with the period prior to the fire, there was an increased risk of ED visits for some respiratory and cardiovascular conditions during heavy smoke conditions, and risk varied by age and sex. The population of 65+ years was especially at risk for increased ED visits. There was a significantly increased risk of ED visits among the 65+ population for asthma (RR [relative rate] = 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-2.93) and for diseases of the veins, lymphatic and circulatory system (RR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.00-2.43). For the age group of 20 to 64 years, there was a statistically significant increase in ED visits for diseases of pulmonary circulation (RR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.42-4.9) and for cerebrovascular disease (RR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.03-2.77).

CONCLUSIONS: High levels of PM2.5 exposure due to the Wallow fire were associated with increased ED visits for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions in Albuquerque. More effective and targeted preventive measures are necessary to reduce morbidity rates associated with wildfire smoke exposure among vulnerable populations.

Language: en