Weather as a predictor of the frequency of asthmatic attacks in Barbados - abstract

Daily data on asthmatic patients seen in the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for the years 1983 and 1989-1991, and corresponding daily data for the meterological variables of wind speed, relative humidity (0800 hr), vapour pressure and minimum and maximum temperatures were analysed to determine the statistical relationships that might exist. The results show positive correlation between asthma attacks and relative humidity and vapour pressure, and negative correlations for the wind speed. The data also show the existence of a seasonal variation in asthmatic attacks. It is suggested that this variation is due to the transport of aero-allergens into Barbados through the trade winds (AU)