Isabella Annesi‐Maesano, Lorenzo Cecchi, Biagioni Benedetta, Kian Fan Chung, Bernard Clot, Martine Collaud Coen, Gennaro D’Amato, Athanasios Damialis, Javier Dominguez‐Ortega, Carmen Galàn, Stefanie Gilles, Stephen Holgate, Mohamed Jeebhay, Stelios Kazadzis, Nikolaos G. Papadopoulos, Santiago Quirce, Joaquin Sastre, Fiona Tummon, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Jolanta Walusiak‐Skorupa, Pablo Alonso‐Coello, Carlos Canelo‐Aybar, Yahveth Cantero‐Fortiz, David Rigau, Josefina Salazar, Francisca Verdugo‐Paiva, Marek Jutel, Cezmi A. Akdis, Ioana Agache
- Background
Limited number of studies have focused on the impact of pollen exposure on asthma. As a part of the EAACI Guidelines on Environment Science, this first systematic review on the relationship of pollen exposure to asthma exacerbations aimed to bridge this knowledge gap in view of implementing recommendations of prevention.
Methods
We searched electronic iPubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases using a set of MeSH terms and related synonyms and identified 73 eligible studies that were included for systemic review. When possible, meta-analyses were conducted.
Results
Overall meta-analysis suggests that outdoor pollen exposure may have an effect on asthma exacerbation but caution is needed due to the low number of studies and their heterogeneity. The strongest associations were found between asthma attacks, asthma-related ED admissions or hospitalizations and an increase of grass pollen concentration in the previous 2 days overall in children aged less thanBackground
Limited number of studies have focused on the impact of pollen exposure on asthma. As a part of the EAACI Guidelines on Environment Science, this first systematic review on the relationship of pollen exposure to asthma exacerbations aimed to bridge this knowledge gap in view of implementing recommendations of prevention.
Methods
We searched electronic iPubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases using a set of MeSH terms and related synonyms and identified 73 eligible studies that were included for systemic review. When possible, meta-analyses were conducted.
Results
Overall meta-analysis suggests that outdoor pollen exposure may have an effect on asthma exacerbation but caution is needed due to the low number of studies and their heterogeneity. The strongest associations were found between asthma attacks, asthma-related ED admissions or hospitalizations and an increase of grass pollen concentration in the previous 2 days overall in children aged less than 18 years of age. Tree pollen may increase asthma-related ED visits or admissions lagged up to 7 days overall in individuals younger than 18 years. Rare data show that among subjects under 18 years of age an exposure to grass pollen lagged up to 3 days may lower lung function.
Conclusions
Further research considering effect modifiers of pollen sensitization, hay fever, asthma, air pollution, green spaces and pre-existing medications is urgently warranted to better evaluate the impacts of pollen on asthma exacerbation. Preventive measures in relation to pollen exposure should be integrated in asthma control as pollen increase continues due to climate change.…
