Wildfire Smoke Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Cardiorespiratory Emergency Department Visits in Alaska

M B Hahn; G Kuiper; K O'Dell; E V Fischer; S Magzamen

doi:10.1029/2020GH000349

Wildfire Smoke Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Cardiorespiratory Emergency Department Visits in Alaska

Geohealth. 2021 May 1;5(5):e2020GH000349. doi: 10.1029/2020GH000349. eCollection 2021 May.

Authors

M B Hahn¹, G Kuiper¹, K O'Dell², E V Fischer², S Magzamen³

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies University of Alaska-Anchorage Anchorage AK USA.
² Department of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USA.
³ Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USA.

Abstract

Alaskan wildfires have major ecological, social, and economic consequences, but associated health impacts remain unexplored. We estimated cardiorespiratory morbidity associated with wildfire smoke (WFS) fine particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) in three major population centers (Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley) during the 2015-2019 wildfire seasons. To estimate WFS PM_2.5, we utilized data from ground-based monitors and satellite-based smoke plume estimates. We implemented time-stratified case-crossover analyses with single and distributed lag models to estimate the effect of WFS PM_2.5 on cardiorespiratory emergency department (ED) visits. On the day of exposure to WFS PM_2.5, there was an increased odds of asthma-related ED visits among 15-65 year olds (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.16), people >65 years (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.31), among Alaska Native people (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.23), and in Anchorage (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.15) and Fairbanks (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.17). There was an increased risk of heart failure related ED visits for Alaska Native people (Lag Day 5 OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.25). We found evidence that rural populations may delay seeking care. As the frequency and magnitude of Alaskan wildfires continue to increase due to climate change, understanding the health impacts will be imperative. A nuanced understanding of the effects of WFS on specific demographic and geographic groups facilitates data-driven public health interventions and fire management protocols that address these adverse health effects.

Keywords: Alaska; Alaska native; cardiorespiratory; epidemiology; particulate matter; smoke; wildfire.