Climate sensitive diseases in the metropolitan district of Quito, a temporal analysis in the period between 2001 and 2010

Abstract

In recent decades, a series of diseases have been linked to climate change in different parts of the world; however, it is not simple to establish a direct cause-effect relationship between climate and disease. This research looked at the relationship between climatesensitive diseases, climatic variables and variables of air pollution in the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ). The study design was ecological; evolution of climate-sensitive diseases was evaluated in the urban area DMQ over the period 2001-2010. The results of the analysis provided evidence of an increase in the occurrence of diseases related to solar radiation, respiratory illnesses and allergies. In turn, respiratory illnesses and allergies showed a positive relationship with climatic and air pollution variables in the DMQ. It is likely that in following years, respiratory illnesses and allergies will be more susceptible to climate change in the DMQ.