Changes in air quality and its effect on emergency admissions
, 2
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Air pollution is an emerging problem in developing countries as well as the world. Effects of air pollution due to short-term exposure may lead to increase in daily mortality, respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, respiratory and cardiovascular emergency room admissions, respiratory and cardiovascular primary care visits and acute respiratory symptoms. The objective of our study was to examine the relationship between air pollution and diagnoses of patients in family medicine outpatient clinic located in emergency room.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study enrolled 17869 patients who were admitted to the family practice outpatient clinic implemented in emergency department. The relationship between patients’ diagnosis and air quality was examined.
RESULTS: The genders of the patients were 50.8% female (n = 9077) and 49.2% male (n = 8792). The mean age was 43.9 ± 19.9. Respiratory system diagnosis showed a statistically significant relationship with the air quality measurement of PM10 (p < 0.05). Patients diagnosed with upper respiratory tract disease and fatigue and hypertension on sensitive air days were found to be significantly higher than those with good air quality. There was a statistical significance between air temperature, and fatigue and cough complaints (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: For human health protection, continuity of life, and environmental sustainability, air pollution should be reduced and brought under control. In our study, with the increase of particulate matter, we observed that patients with respiratory system diseases, fatigue complaints, and hypertension increased. Sharing these results with province-wide authorities may help the settlement and industrial planning in the upcoming years.
Keywords: air pollutionemergency admissionfamily medicine
References
- Kampa M, Castanas E. Human health effects of air pollution. Environ Pollut. 2008; 151(2): 362–367.
- Anderson JO, Thundiyil JG, Stolbach A. Clearing the air: a review of the effects of particulate matter air pollution on human health. J Med Toxicol. 2012; 8(2): 166–175.
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1.
- Zhang X. Particles Matter, Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide. Current Topics in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 2019: 217–235.
- http://www.cmo.org.tr/resimler/ekler/10504079d7e9ced_ek.pdf?tipi=72&turu=X&sube=0.
- Gazete R. Hava Kalitesi Değerlendirme ve Yönetimi Yönetmeliği. Çevre Ve Orman Bakanl. 2008; 26898: 6.
- Dockery DW, Pope CA, Xu X, et al. An association between air pollution and mortality in six U.S. cities. N Engl J Med. 1993; 329(24): 1753–1759.
- Pope CA, Thun MJ, Namboodiri MM, et al. Particulate air pollution as a predictor of mortality in a prospective study of US adults. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995; 151(3): 669–74.
- Brunekreef B, Holgate ST. Air pollution and health. The lancet. 2002; 360(9341): 1233–42.
- Samet JM, Dominici F, Curriero FC, et al. Fine particulate air pollution and mortality in 20 U.S. cities, 1987-1994. N Engl J Med. 2000; 343(24): 1742–1749.
- Atkinson RW, Anderson HR, Sunyer J, et al. Acute effects of particulate air pollution on respiratory admissions: results from APHEA 2 project. Air Pollution and Health: a European Approach. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001; 164(10 Pt 1): 1860–1866.
- TAĞIL Ş, Menteşe S. ZONGULDAK’TA HAVA KİRLİLİĞİ PM10 & SO2 İLE İLİŞKİLİ OLARAK SEÇİLMİŞ SOLUNUM YOLU HASTALIKLARININ ZAMANSAL VE MEKÂNSAL DEĞİŞİMİ1. Balıkesir Üniversitesi Sos Bilim Enstitüsü Derg. 2012; 15(27): 3–18.
- Tağıl Ş. Balıkesir’de solunum yolu hastalıklarının mekansal dağılışı üzerine etkisini anlamada jeo-istatistik teknikler. ; 2007.
- Hajat S, Haines A, Goubet SA, et al. Association of air pollution with daily GP consultations for asthma and other lower respiratory conditions in London. Thorax. 1999; 54(7): 597–605.
- Dubowsky SD, Suh H, Schwartz J, et al. Diabetes, obesity, and hypertension may enhance associations between air pollution and markers of systemic inflammation. Environ Health Perspect. 2006; 114(7): 992–998.
- Bartoli CR, Wellenius GA, Diaz EA, et al. Mechanisms of inhaled fine particulate air pollution-induced arterial blood pressure changes. Environ Health Perspect. 2009; 117(3): 361–366.
- Brook RD, Franklin B, Cascio W, et al. Expert Panel on Population and Prevention Science of the American Heart Association. Air pollution and cardiovascular disease: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Expert Panel on Population and Prevention Science of the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2004; 109(21): 2655–2671.
- O'Neill MS, Veves A, Zanobetti A, et al. Diabetes enhances vulnerability to particulate air pollution-associated impairment in vascular reactivity and endothelial function. Circulation. 2005; 111(22): 2913–2920.
- Guo Y, Tong S, Li S, et al. The relationship between particulate air pollution and emergency hospital visits for hypertension in Beijing, China. Sci Total Environ. 2010; 408(20): 4446–4450.
- Nastos PT, Matzarakis A. Weather impacts on respiratory infections in Athens, Greece. Int J Biometeorol. 2006; 50(6): 358–369.
- Mäkinen TM, Juvonen R, Jokelainen J, et al. Cold temperature and low humidity are associated with increased occurrence of respiratory tract infections. Respir Med. 2009; 103(3): 456–462.
- Danielides V, Nousia CS, Patrikakos G, et al. Effect of meteorological parameters on acute laryngitis in adults. Acta Otolaryngol. 2002; 122(6): 655–660.
- Michelozzi P, Accetta G, De Sario M, et al. PHEWE Collaborative Group. High temperature and hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory causes in 12 European cities. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009; 179(5): 383–389.