Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Investigating the effects of dust storms on morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases: A systematic review

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Ali Sadeghimoghaddam 1
. Hamidreza Khankeh 2
. Mehdi Norozi 3
. Shahrokh Fateh 4
. Mehrdad Farrokhi 4

1 Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran,

2 Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

3 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran,

Abstract
New epidemiological studies acknowledge the detrimental effects of dust storms on health.
The aim of this study was to systematically review the effects of dust storms on the morbidity
and mortality rates of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The results of this study were
obtained based on articles published in English-language journals. For the purpose of this
study, all articles published until the end of 2020 based on the search in the “Scopus,” “Web
of Science,” and “PubMed” databases were selected. Articles were searched independently
by two trained researchers. Dust storms are the cause of many diseases and health-related
complications, of which cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are common. It is necessary
to recognize and investigate the harmful effects of dust storms to prevent serious harms
to human societies. In the reviewed articles, the impact of dust storms on several diseases,
including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,has been analyzed. Most of these articles
acknowledge the effect of dust storms on increasing the incidence and mortality rate of these
diseases, although in some articles this effect is not statistically significant. Many studies
conducted around the world confirm the harmful effects of dust storms on cardiovascular
and respiratory diseases, including increase in the number and duration of hospitalizations, as
well as increase in mortality and exacerbation of these diseases. However, some studies do not
consider the harmful effects of dust storms on the above diseases to be statistically significant.

Keywords

Cardiovascular disease
climate change
morbidity
sand storm whit dust
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 4
May 2021
Pages 1-12

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