Publications by authors named "A G Rappold"
Background: Climate change is increasing the frequency of high heat and high humidity days. Whether these conditions can trigger ventricular arrhythmias [ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, VT/VF] in susceptible persons is unknown.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between warm-season weather conditions and risk of VT/VF in individuals with pacemakers and defibrillators.
Estimating spatially varying health effects of wildland fire smoke using mobile health data.
J R Stat Soc Ser C Appl Stat
November 2024
Wildland fire smoke exposures are an increasing threat to public health, highlighting the need for studying the effects of protective behaviours on reducing health outcomes. Emerging smartphone applications provide unprecedented opportunities to deliver health risk communication messages to a large number of individuals in real-time and subsequently study the effectiveness, but also pose methodological challenges. Smoke Sense, a citizen science project, provides an interactive smartphone app platform for participants to engage with information about air quality, and ways to record their own health symptoms and actions taken to reduce smoke exposure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study investigates the effect of extreme heat on respiratory hospitalizations among older adults (65+) across the 120 largest US cities from 2000 to 2017, highlighting a gap in understanding how heat impacts respiratory health in different demographic groups.* -
- Analysis revealed over 3 million respiratory hospitalizations, with high temperatures leading to a cumulative 1.2% increase in all-cause respiratory disease hospitalizations, significantly driven by respiratory infections and chronic respiratory conditions.* -
- Results showed that the heat index provided a stronger correlation with increased hospitalizations compared to temperature alone, and the risk of heat-related respiratory issues varied notably across different geographic locations.*
Article Synopsis
- Increased ambient temperatures from climate change significantly affect individuals with kidney failure, particularly those on hemodialysis, heightening concerns about their resilience to heat.
- A study analyzing dialysis patients from 2011 to 2016 found that high temperatures correlate with increased mortality risks and more frequent health care visits due to fluid and cardiovascular issues.
- The findings indicate a cumulative effect of heat exposure over several days, with greater health impacts noted in specific U.S. climate regions.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy and early childhood impacts the long-term use of prescribed respiratory medications in children.
- Using data from children born in western states between 2010 and 2014, researchers analyzed the correlation between smoke exposure and respiratory medication use.
- Findings suggest increased risks for prolonged use of respiratory medications, especially linked to smoke exposure in the third trimester and the first 12 weeks after birth, with notable effects observed in male infants.