UC Davis Health Unveils Innovative Strategy to Shield Patients With COPD and Asthma From Wildfire Hazards

As wildfires become an annual threat due to climate change, health systems must proactively adopt air quality-focused population health approaches to protect vulnerable patients with chronic respiratory conditions like COPD and asthma, according to a new action plan published in the Journal of the COPD Foundation.

In a recent publication, researchers from the University of California highlight the escalating health risks posed by increasing wildfire frequency and severity, particularly among underserved communities. Wildfire smoke contains thousands of harmful components, including particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs.

“Particulate matter can irritate the eyes and the respiratory tract, leading to cough, phlegm, wheezing, and difficulty breathing, and exacerbating preexisting health conditions,” wrote Dr Brooks Kuhn, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento, California, United States, and coauthor.

Underserved populations are disproportionately affected due to factors like low socioeconomic status, limited access to health care, and inadequate resources to implement protective measures such as air filtration systems. Measuring the true impact of wildfire smoke is challenging because symptoms often overlap with other respiratory illnesses, and exposure levels can vary widely.

To address these challenges, the University of California Davis Health has developed a Wildfire Population Health Approach consisting of 5 key pillars:

1. Identify Clinically At-Risk and Underserved Populations: Using validated registries and electronic health records, care teams identify patients with COPD and asthma who are at high risk during wildfire events. Integration of air quality data and geocoding indexes helps pinpoint those living in areas with active fires or poor air quality.
2. Assemble Multidisciplinary Care Teams: Collaborative teams—including physicians, respiratory therapists, community health workers, and local advocacy groups—work together to understand patient needs and provide education and resources tailored to specific communities.
3. Create Custom Analytics and Wildfire-Risk Stratification: By integrating air quality indices into patient records, health systems can stratify risk and proactively reach out to those most vulnerable during wildfire seasons.
4. Develop Tailored Care Pathways: Proactive and personalized interventions include educating patients on maintaining indoor air quality, distributing supplies like do-it-yourself air filters, and providing mobile clinics to improve access to care.
5. Define Meaningful Outcomes: Ongoing evaluation of interventions aims to reduce clinical exacerbations, hospitalizations, and health inequities, with a commitment to continuous improvement.

The authors emphasize the importance of policy support and collaboration with public health entities to sustain these initiatives. Agencies like the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity can provide guidance and resources to help health systems respond effectively to climate-related health threats.

“With the Wildfire Population Health Approach outlined here, we provide a plan of action for health systems and care teams to adapt to their communities, circumstances, and needs,” concluded the study authors.

Reference

Kuhn BT, Gupta R. Improving wildfire readiness among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: applying a population health approach to climate change. Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2024; 11(4): 427-435. doi: http://doi.org/10.15326/jcopdf.2024.0509