Title: The effects of climate change on respiratory diseases: a literature review

Authors: Kristina Marie Scerri; Sarah Cuschieri

Addresses: Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta ' Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, Canada

Abstract: Climate change is an expanding global epidemic, causing shocking effects as it led to a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Exploring relationships between the effects of climate change and respiratory diseases are significant. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a detailed summary on the impact of climate change on respiratory diseases. A PubMed literature search (2000-2022) was performed using the following keywords, 'climate change', 'respiratory diseases', 'temperature', 'air pollution', 'wildfires', 'floods', 'thunderstorms', 'dust storms', 'asthma', 'pollen', and 'healthcare system'. Heat and cold temperatures, air pollution, wildfires, droughts, thunderstorms and dust storms as well as allergens were found to have a positive association between climate change and respiratory diseases. The impact of climate change on respiratory diseases is detrimental. If adaptive strategies are not implemented, these climatic effects will lead to a higher respiratory burden among the population and healthcare systems, with potential economic downfall, and an uninhabitable world.

Keywords: climate change; respiratory diseases; temperature; air pollution; wildfires; floods; thunderstorms; dust storms; asthma; pollen; adaptive strategies; healthcare system; non-communicable diseases; NCDs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2024.142600

International Journal of Global Warming, 2024 Vol.34 No.3, pp.224 - 242

Received: 25 Apr 2024
Accepted: 02 Aug 2024
Published online: 11 Nov 2024 *

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