English

This brochure will answer:

1. What is climate change?
2. Why is climate change bad for people with asthma?
3. What can we do – in our homes and communities – to protect our health?
4. How can we help slow down climate change now and in the future?

The full publication is available to download (see option to download below). 

Abstract
Objectives: To observe whether American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) patients at the Yakama Indian Health Service seen at the pharmacist-managed asthma clinic improved asthma outcomes.
Design: Retrospective chart review, single group, preintervention and postintervention.
Setting: Pharmacist-managed asthma clinic at an Indian Health Service ambulatory care clinic.
Patients: Sixty-one AI/AN patients who were seen at least once in the asthma clinic from 2010 to 2014.
Intervention: Pharmacist-provided asthma education and medication management.
Main outcome measures: Asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency department or urgent care (ED) visits.
Results: The total number of asthma-related hospitalizations and ED visits between the 12-month periods preceding and following the initial asthma clinic visit were 11 versus 2 hospitalizations (P ¼ 0.02) and 43 versus 25 ED visits (P ¼ 0.02), respectively. Over the same period, asthma-related oral corticosteroid use showed a nonsignificant decrease in the number of prescriptions filled (n ¼ 59, P ¼ 0.08). In contrast, inhaled corticosteroid prescription fills significantly increased (n ¼ 42, P ¼ 0.01).
Conclusion: A reduction of asthma-related hospitalizations and ED visits were observed during the course of the intervention. Increased access to formal asthma education and appropriate asthma care benefit the Yakama AI/AN people. A controlled trial is needed to confirm that the intervention causes the intended effect.
Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Pharmacists Association

No one is immune to the health impacts of climate change. But as with many threats to our health, certain populations are especially at risk. Some groups are more exposed to climate impacts because of where or how they live, some are more sensitive to health threats, and others may be less able to adapt to a changing climate. Populations who are especially at risk include:

• Those with low income, some communities of color, immigrant groups (including those with limited English proficiency)
• Indigenous peoples
• Children
• Pregnant women
• Older adults
• Vulnerable occupational groups like outdoor workers, first responders, and military personnel
• People with disabilities
• People with preexisting or chronic medical conditions.

EPA has recently published a series of fact sheets focusing on the health impacts of climate change at different stages of life, and for certain populations of concern.   The more we know about the health impacts of climate change, the better we can protect those who are vulnerable. Read the fact sheets and then test your knowledge with our climate and health quiz.