Impacts of Air Pollution on Patients with Chronic Diseases and Their Implications: Focusing on Healthcare Utilization Among Children With Asthma in the United States

Abstract

Climate change and air pollution are interrelated and pose significant challenges to the health of people worldwide. There are vulnerable populations that are more susceptible to the effects of air pollution, and recently, the chronic disease burden among these vulnerable groups has been predicted to become a significant health issue in the future. This article examines the impacts of climate change and air pollution on human health and how air pollution affects the health of vulnerable populations with chronic diseases. Specifically, this article reviews three studies which, focusing on children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas of South Texas, investigated the impacts of air pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, on the utilization of healthcare services by pediatric asthma patients, and draws out some implications for Korea.