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Assessing the Risk of Respiratory-Related Healthcare Visits Associated with Wildfire Smoke Exposure in Children 0–18 Years Old: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Shelby Henry

    (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Maria B. Ospina

    (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, 220 B Heritage Medical Research Centre, Edmonton, AB T6G 2S2, Canada)

  • Liz Dennett

    (Scott Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada)

  • Anne Hicks

    (Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, 4-590 ECHA 11405 87 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

Abstract

Wildfires are increasing in frequency, size, and intensity, and increasingly affect highly populated areas. Wildfire smoke impacts cardiorespiratory health; children are at increased risk due to smaller airways, a higher metabolic rate and ongoing development. The objective of this systematic review was to describe the risk of pediatric respiratory symptoms and healthcare visits following exposure to wildfire smoke. Medical and scientific databases and the grey literature were searched from inception until December 2020. Included studies evaluated pediatric respiratory-related healthcare visits or symptoms associated with wildfire smoke exposure. Prescribed burns, non-respiratory symptoms and non-pediatric studies were excluded. Risk of bias was evaluated using the National Toxicology Program’s Office of Health Assessment and Translation Risk of Bias Rating Tool. Data are presented narratively due to study heterogeneity. Of 2138 results, 1167 titles and abstracts were screened after duplicate removal; 65 full text screens identified 5 pre-post and 11 cross-sectional studies of rural, urban and mixed sites from the USA, Australia, Canada and Spain. There is a significant increase in respiratory emergency department visits and asthma hospitalizations within the first 3 days of exposure to wildfire smoke, particularly in children < 5 years old.

Suggested Citation

  • Shelby Henry & Maria B. Ospina & Liz Dennett & Anne Hicks, 2021. "Assessing the Risk of Respiratory-Related Healthcare Visits Associated with Wildfire Smoke Exposure in Children 0–18 Years Old: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-37, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8799-:d:618416
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    Cited by:

    1. Linn E. Moore & Andre Oliveira & Raymond Zhang & Laleh Behjat & Anne Hicks, 2023. "Impacts of Wildfire Smoke and Air Pollution on a Pediatric Population with Asthma: A Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.

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