Effects of pollen on allergic and respiratory health from meta-analysis of systematic reviews.
| Study | Population/Area | Exposure | Outcome | Study design included | Effect estimation | Change of effect (if available) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erbas et al., 2018 [153] | Australia, Canada, USA, Spain, Israel (0–18 years).14 studies (3 included in meta-analysis) | Graminaceae | Emergency room visits for asthma and wheezing | Time series, case-crossover, descriptive studies | + 1.88% (95% CI 0.94–2.82) with a 3-day lag per 10 pollen grains per m3 | Major effects in the 5–17 age group |
| Annesi-Maesano et al., 2023 [154] | Predominantly high-income countries (all age groups).73 studies (2–4 studies in meta-analysis) | Graminaceae | Severe asthma exacerbations | Time series, case-crossover, cohort, cross-sectional | + 2%; (95% CI 1–3) in all ages for increment from 0 to 50 granules/m3. Borderline effect in children | Greater effects in children, no effect in the elderly |
| Shrestha et al., 2021 [155] | United Kingdom, Australia, USA, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Belgium (0–18 years).12 studies (2–3 in meta-analysis) | Graminaceae, Betula | Asthma hospitalizations | Time series, case-crossover, cohort | Change (%) = + 0.85% (CI −3.24; 4.95) per increment of 10 granules/m3 of Graminaceae;Change (%) = + 0.85% (CI 0.40, 1.30) for Betula | - |
| Kitinoja et al., 2020 [156] | France, Switzerland, USA, Spain, Finland, Austria, Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, Australia (all age groups).26 studies (16 in meta-analysis) | Total and taxa-specific pollen | Self-reported symptoms of asthma and allergy and lung function | Panel studies | At least one symptom of asthma or allergy: + 2% (CI 1–3%); lower respiratory symptoms: + 0.8% (CI 0–1.5%);upper respiratory symptoms: + 6.6% (CI 4.4–8.7%);ocular symptoms: + 10.9% (CI 5–17.2%) for a total pollen increase of 10 granules/m3. No significant effect on lung function | - |
CI: confidence interval.
Supplementary materials for this article are available at: https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/file/1009135_sup_1.pdf.
This document represents a virtuous example of national scientific collaboration, born from the joint commitment of experts of nine scientific societies, which have shared skills, data and strategic vision to address one of the most urgent challenges of contemporary public health.
We thank the Presidents of the nine Scientific Societies that have joined the initiative with promptness and conviction, recognizing its urgency and strategic value: Prof. Vincenzo Patella, President of the Italian Society of Allergology, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (SIAAIC); Prof. Lorenzo Richiardi, President of the Italian Association of Epidemiology (AIE); Prof. Francesco Murzilli, President of the Association of Italian Territorial and Hospital Allergists and Immunologists (AAIITO); Prof. Raffaele Scala, President of the Italian Association of Hospital Pulmonologists (AIPO); Prof. Gian Luigi Marseglia, President of the Italian Society of Paediatric Allergology and Immunology (SIAIP); Prof. Augusto Arsieni, President of the Italian Society of Aerobiology, Medicine and Environment (SIAMA); Prof. Maurizio Coggiola, President of the Italian Society of Occupational Medicine (SIML); Prof. Stefania La Grutta, President of the Italian Society for Childhood Respiratory Diseases (SIMRI); Prof. Paola Rogliani, President of the Italian Society of Pneumology (SIP).
The experts of the inter-society Task Force are: Manuela De Sario, Silvia Maritano (AIE); Paolo Borrelli, Gabriele Cortellini (AAIITO); Carlo Barbetta, Francesco Menzella (AIPO); Manlio Milanese, Giovanni Viegi (SIAAIC); Cristiana Indolfi, Giovanni Traina (SIAIP); Augusto Arsieni, Emma Tedeschini (SIAMA); Massimo Corradi, Nicola Murgia (SIML); Giuliana Ferrante, Raffaella Nenna (SIMRI); Laura Carrozzi, Sara Maio (SIP).
GV: Conceptualization, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing, Supervision. SM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. AA: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. CB: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. PB: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. LC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. MC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. GC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. MDS: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. GF: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. CI: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. SM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. FM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. MM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. NM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. RN: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. ET: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. GT: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. VP: Supervision. All authors read and approved the submitted version.
Vincenzo Patella, who is the Editorial Board Member and Guest Editor of Exploration of Asthma & Allergy; Manlio Milanese, who is the Guest Editor of Exploration of Asthma & Allergy. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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