Studies have shown that demographic characteristics have an impact on disease. The impacts of environmental risks on health outcomes are also well documented. Environmental health hazards are often elevated in low-income areas, disproportionately adding to the burden of disease. The study objective was to identify low-income areas in one Southeastern Idaho urban area, and determine if respiratory disease incidence is increased, particularly when levels of specific air pollutants are elevated.
Specific ICD-9-coded respiratory illnesses admitted to two local hospitals from January through March 1998 and 1999 were identified. Patient addresses were geocoded and added to a GIS layer of census tracts. Incidence rates were calculated for each census tract. Census tracts were broken down into low-, medium-, and high-income levels. Community-level measurements of particulate matter (PM) were obtained. Census tracts were compared to examine the spatial distribution of respiratory illness and its relationship to areas of elevated PM.
Preliminary analysis indicated that low-income areas were more likely to experience greater respiratory illness incidence. Spatial distribution comparison of cases to locations of PM monitors yielded ambiguous results. Maps were created in ArcView 3.0 to identify areas most at risk for respiratory disease in order to focus prevention strategies. Smoothed rate maps were produced to identify spatial patterns of respiratory morbidity.
Results of this study were used to produce GIS maps, which could help target asthma prevention programs and help community groups understand the impact of air pollution on acute cases of disease. Measurement of individual-level exposures to certain pollutants is recommended.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify areas at risk for increased respiratory illness 2. Recognize the usefulness of GIS for prevention planning
Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Risk Mapping
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.