Study links planned power shutoffs and wildfire smoke to respiratory care use

A study published in PLOS Medicine linked planned public safety power shutoffs, which utilities use to reduce wildfire risk, with increased respiratory-related emergency department visits and unscheduled hospital admissions in California. Researchers analyzed data from 2013 to 2019 for adults aged 20 and older, covering respiratory, COPD-specific, cardiovascular and psychiatric care.

Severe shutoffs were associated with higher odds of same-day respiratory encounters (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.11), with stronger associations for COPD. Compared with no shutoff or wildfire exposure, a shutoff combined with 10 μg/m³ higher wildfire PM2.5 was associated with higher odds of respiratory encounters (1.16 [95% CI: 1.10, 1.22]). The researchers found no associations for cardiovascular or psychiatric encounters. They noted that exposures were estimated by residential ZIP code, not measured for individuals. Medical Xpress reported that the authors called for further research into household exposure levels.