The effects of forest fires on hospital admissions for respiratory diseases

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To analyze the effect of spatially exposure to fire risk on the occurrence of respiratory diseases in the municipalities of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. Methods This was an ecological study of spatial prevalence of hospitalization for respiratory diseases and fire risk using Monte Alegre index. This methodology reduces the risk as precipitation occurs, where the volume of rain (in mm) is considered as danger lane changer. The empirical Bayesian method and a multiple regression spatial response variable were used to model the prevalence of hospitalization for respiratory diseases, and the exposure variable fire hazard. For calibration, the proxies of fire outbreaks and surface ozone concentration, precipitation and humidity were used. Results We observed statistically significant associations between the prevalence of hospitalization for respiratory diseases and the risk of fire. Conclusions fire risks triggering fires are highly related to the prevalence of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in vulnerable sub populations in the municipalities of the State of Mato Grosso.