Expanding urban tree cover can reduce asthma hospitalization

Expanding urban tree cover can reduce asthma hospitalization

People living in polluted urban areas are far less likely to be admitted to hospital with asthma when there are lots of trees in their neighborhood, suggests a new study published in the journal Environment International.

The study which evaluated more than 650,000 serious asthma attacks over a period of 15 years found that green space and gardens were associated with reductions in asthma hospitalization when pollutant exposures were lower but had no significant association when pollutant exposures were higher.

In contrast, tree density (an extra 300 trees per square km) was associated with fewer emergency asthma hospitalizations- 50 fewer emergency asthma cases per 100,000 residents over the study period in a typical urban area with a high level of background air pollution - 15 µg of PM 2.5 per cubic meter, or a nitrogen dioxide concentration around 33 µg per cubic meter.

Planting trees does not simply improve the esthetics of any city. More importantly, planting trees also helps the environment as trees improve the air quality. Air pollution is not only a major environmental hazard but also a major health hazard, in particular from cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

The prevailing high pollution levels should be a matter of concern for us and each one of us should do our bit to help reduce air pollution. Expanding tree cover in areas of high pollution in cities, as suggested in this study, can improve respiratory health.

Each one of us can do something every day to prevent or at least help control the air pollution levels and keep the environment healthy. Planting trees is one way of doing so. It is also an economical way to curb the growing problem of air pollution.

We need to plant more trees to save our environment.

Universal screening for alcohol misuse at hospitalization is a feasible strategy

Universal screening for alcohol misuse at hospitalization is a feasible strategy A study published online July 27, 2017 in the Journal of Hepatology has demonstrated that universal screening for alcohol misuse at the time of hospitalization to identify patients at risk of developing alcohol-related liver disease, is a feasible strategy. Researchers from the UK screened all admissions to the Acute Medical Unit of a large acute hospital using an electronic data capture system. At the time of admission, information about the amount of alcohol consumed, previous visits and or admissions and whether they were alcohol-related was recorded. Around 91% patients completed the screening; of these, around 3% of the patients were grouped as “increasing”, and 4% as “high” risk of alcohol harm. The high risk group had more frequent emergency room (ER) visits and higher re-admission rates; gastrointestinal bleeding, mental health disorders, poisoning and liver disease were the most common diagnoses for hospitalization. What this study showed was that it is possible to screen patients for alcohol misuse at hospitalization, identify patients with a very high unit consumption and then to refer them for appropriate intervention, potentially reducing the burden of alcohol-related harm. While, lower risk patients can be given brief advice by any trained healthcare professional This study assumes all the more importance because alcohol misuse is a major cause of preventable death. It also offers a solution to the unmet need to identify patients with alcohol-related liver disease at an earlier stage. According to the WHO, 3.3 million deaths (~6% of all deaths) globally every year are due to alcohol-related harm. It is all the more worrisome because alcohol consumption causes death and disability relatively early in life, particularly in the younger age group. Alcohol has been linked to many noncommunicable diseases, including alcohol-related liver disease and injuries. Overall 5.1 % of the global burden of disease and injury is attributable to alcohol, as measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Source 1. Westwood G, et al. Universal screening for alcohol misuse in acute medical admissions is feasible and identifies patients at high risk of liver disease. Journal of Hepatology, published 27 July 2017. Dr KK Aggarwal National President IMA & HCFI