Ambient temperature and hospitalizations of children due to respiratory diseases in Cuiabá-MT, Brazil

Abstract

This study evaluated the role of temperature and fine particulate matter in hospitalizations of children living in Cuiabá-MT, obtained from DATASUS, between 01/01/2016 and 12/31/2018. Daily concentrations of the pollutant fine particulate matter were estimated using the CAMS mathematical model, made available by CPTEC. Diagnoses of tracheitis and laryngitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and asthma were included. INMET provided data on maximum and minimum temperatures and relative humidity. Statistical analysis was performed with three generalized additive Poisson regression models, one of which only included the minimum temperature, another including the pollutant and the last with an interaction variable. There were 1,612 hospitalizations in the period; in the multivariate model, associations were identified between minimum temperature and hospitalizations in lags 1 to 5; the effect of increasing the minimum temperature by 4°C resulted in an increase in the risk of hospitalizations by 18%; 15.2% of hospitalizations are attributed to this increase and an excess of approximately US$ 68,000.00 in expenses for the health system during the period evaluated. In addition to the known effects of exposure to pollutants on health, it was possible to identify that an increase in the minimum daily temperature can cause damage to children’s health.