Abstract

SALAZAR CEBALLOS, Alexander  and  ALVAREZ MINO, Lídice. Association of respiratory symptoms with atmospheric and climatic factors in adults in Santa Marta, Colombia. Rev. costarric. salud pública [online]. 2013, vol.22, n.1, pp.27-34. ISSN 1409-1429.

Objective: Globally there is strong evidence that exposure to air pollutants increases respiratory diseases in adults. Thus the goal of this study was to observe the association of respiratory symptoms with atmospheric and climatic factors in adults in Santa Marta. Methods: The exposed areas were those that had higher concentrations of 75 ug/m³ PM₁₀. From hospital records respiratory diseases were classified into acute, high and low, and chronic. Statistical analyzes that were performed were epidemiological association and logistic regression. Results: It was found that PM₁₀ concentrations were higher in Gaira and Pescaíto overcoming protection values suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). No significant association was observed between epidemiological wet and dry periods, the PM₁₀ and respiratory diseases in adults acute and chronic. However we observed epidemiological association between being male and increased risk of acute respiratory symptoms, and also observed epidemiological association between being male and decreased risk of chronic respiratory symptoms. Discussion: For Santa Marta, it is suggested that April should be the first month of early surveillance of respiratory diseases. This is one of the first works in Colombia, specifically in Santa Marta in present analysis between respiratory diseases and climatic factors, contributing to early surveillance systems for public health.

Keywords : Colombia; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Air Pollution; Particulate Matter.

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