Time to act! A review exploring the impact of climate change on respiratory diseases

BACKGROUND: Climate change is a growing global epidemic, with negative repercussions on various determinants including an impact on non-communicable diseases. Respiratory diseases contribute to a substantial global burden. Therefore, exploring the relationships and impact between the growing climate change epidemic and respiratory diseases are of utmost clinical importance. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive summary on the pathophysiological effects of climate change on respiratory diseases. METHODS: A PubMed literature search (2000-2022) was performed using the following keywords, “climate change'', “air pollution'', “asthma”, “allergic rhinitis'', “thunderstorms” and “pollen”. The article selection followed the PRISMA 2020 guideline. RESULTS: Extreme temperature events, both heat and cold temperatures, air pollution, extreme weather events including wildfires, droughts, thunderstorms and dust storms as well as allergens were found to have a positive association between climate change and respiratory diseases. Climate change lead to an increase in these events, making respiratory diseases more susceptible. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of climate change on respiratory diseases is detrimental. Urgent adaptive strategies to reduce the impact of climate change is eminent. Failure to reduce/halt these climatic effects will result in higher respiratory burden among the population, healthcare systems, with potential economic downfall, and an uninhabitable world. KEY MESSAGES: • Climate change is dominating the global ecosystems with detrimental effect on respiratory diseases. • Urgent action to halt climate change is a requisite to safeguard the future generation.