Associations of meteorological factors and obesity on pediatric asthma hospitalization

Background: Meteorological factors and obesity are linked to pediatric asthma exacerbations, but it remains unclear whether overweight/ obese children are more vulnerable to these meteorological stressors. This study examined the associations of meteorological factors and obesity on pediatric asthma hospitalization. Methods: This case-control study included 6956 pediatric asthma patients, with 1060 cases (at least one asthma-related hospitalization), and 5896 controls (no hospitalizations). Individual exposures to relative humidity (RH) and temperature were estimated using radial basis function interpolation at 1-day, 7-day, and 1-month intervals. Logistic regression models evaluated the associations between meteorological conditions and hospitalization, while also analyzing interactions with body weight (normal versus overweight/obese). Results: A 1% increase in 1-month mean RH was associated with 8% decrease in the odds ratio (OR) for hospitalization (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87–0.99). Higher mean temperature, together with overweight/obesity, was associated with increased ORs for hospitalization: 42% (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04–1.93) over 1 day, 39% (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.01–1.94) over 7 days, and 44% (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.01–2.03) over 1 month. Conclusion: Higher RH was protective against hospitalization, whereas elevated temperatures with overweight/obesity increased hospitalization. These findings indicate that meteorological conditions with body weight are important considerations in pediatric asthma management. Impact: Higher mean temperature, together with overweight or obesity, was associated with an increased odds ratio for hospitalization compared to the normal-weight group. It provides new evidence that asthmatic children with overweight or obesity are more susceptible to environmental stressors than normal-weight group. This study highlights the need to consider both body weight and meteorological factors, specifically temperature and humidity, in pediatric asthma management. Category of study: Clinical study.