If left unchecked, climate change will have a significant impact on the respiratory health of many people, including in Europe, says a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the sister organisation of the British newspaper The Economist, published on 7 September.
Commissioned by the pharmaceutical company Chiesi, the paper notes, among other things, that premature deaths due to ozone, a key contributor to respiratory disease morbidity and mortality, have increased by 20% over the period 2009-2018. It was responsible for 20,600 premature deaths in Europe in 2018 alone.
This situation is likely to worsen, the EIU warns, as climate change favours the atmospheric conditions necessary for the formation of ground-level ozone.
Another impact highlighted by the report is the increased risk of premature death in patients with respiratory disorders due to the increased temperature.
One analysis cited in the report predicted that there will be more than twice as many hospital admissions for heat-related respiratory ailments between 2021 and 2050 than between 1981 and 2010 in Europe.
Finally, the report also warns of the risks associated with pollen. With higher temperatures, flowering seasons are longer, creating more pollen that is more allergenic and remains in the air longer, making it increasingly dangerous for respiratory health.
See the report: https://bit.ly/3ne3dyf (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)