Abigail Nacht
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Peter Larson
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Institute of Social Research/School of Public Health/SEAS / Other
Program:
Authors: Abigail Nacht, Peter S. Larson
Session: Session 1: 9:00 am – 9:50 am
Poster: 30
Abstract
Introduction: Dramatic changes in global climate over the past decades have correlated with changes in public health and the safety of the environment. Pollen, an aeroallergen and an example of particulate matter, is one environmental factor which influences respiratory health among individuals of all ages. Those with an allergy to pollen often experience congestion and allergic conjunctivitis– itchy, red eyes and a scratchy throat. Those who suffer with severe pollen allergies may be in need of hospitalization to lessen their symptoms. The research conducted serves as an analysis of the impacts of different varieties of pollen on different age groups. Methods: Utilizing PubMed, scholarly articles were found regarding the search terms “pollen AND emergency department OR emergency room AND elderly”. Studies which involved individuals under the age of 65, were written in a language besides English, or were case studies, pharmacological studies, or animal studies were excluded. Out of 83 papers, 11 met the inclusion criteria. Results: A series of literature reviews found a direct relationship between the quantity of pollen in the air during a given time of year and the quantity of emergency department admissions of elderly individuals older than 65 years in age. Out of the final 11 papers, six suggested a correlation between pollen counts and emergency department visits. Two of the papers were not utilized due to their outdatedness and/or their results mainly pertaining to a younger age group. The data from four out of the six papers was compiled in order to expose the way in which the presence of aeroallergens has a significant correlation to elderly respiratory illness. Conclusions: Respiratory illnesses are a widespread issue affecting many individuals over the age of 65. This analysis of scholarly articles suggests that a high number of respiratory illness-related emergency department visits may be attributed in part to the level of pollen in the air. More research should be done in order to analyze the lasting effects of respiratory illnesses influenced by pollen. In addition, more species of pollen should be analyzed in order to better determine which species of pollen are most detrimental to human health.
