Short-Term Exposure Effect of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter, Ozone and Cold Temperature on Emergency Room Visits for Asthma Patients

Short-term effects of air pollutants and meteorological factors on outpatients with allergic airway disease in Ningbo, China, 2015-2021

OBJECTIVES

The allergic airway disease, such as allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, is a general term of a range of inflammatory disorders affecting the upper and lower airways and lung parenchyma. This study aimed to investigate the short-term effects of air pollutants and meteorological factors on AAD-related daily outpatient visits.

STUDY DESIGN

An ecological study.

METHODS

Data on outpatient visits due to AAD (n = 4,554,404) were collected from the platform of the Ningbo Health Information from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021. A Quasi-Poisson generalized additive regression model was established to analyze the lag effects of air pollution on daily outpatient visits for AAD. Restricted cubic spline functions were used to explore the potential non-linear relationships between air pollutants and meteorological and daily outpatient visits for AAD.

RESULTS

PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, or CO were associated with daily outpatient visits for AAD, and there was a significant increasing trend in the cumulative lag effects. SO2 had the largest effect at Lag07, with a 25.3% (95% CI: 21.6%-29.0%) increase in AAD for every 10 μg/m3 increase in exposure concentration. Subgroup analysis showed that the 0-18 years old age group had the strongest effects, especially for AR, and all effects were stronger in the cold season.

CONCLUSIONS

Given that patients aged 0-18 are more susceptible to environmental changes, protective measures specifically for children should be taken during dry and cold weather conditions with poor air quality.

The Influence of Fine Particulate Matter and Cold Weather on Emergency Room Interventions for Childhood Asthma

(1) Background: Children are the most vulnerable to pollution due to their decreased stature, heightened respiratory rate, and frequent outdoor engagement. PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, and cold weather are associated with pediatric asthma. In this study, we investigated the nexus between air pollution, climate factors, and pediatric asthma emergency room visits (ERVs). (2) Method: Pediatric asthma ERV data for healthcare quality from the Taiwanese National Insurance in the Taipei area were obtained from 2015 to 2019. Air pollution and climate factor data were also collected. Poisson regression was employed to determine the relationships with relative risks (RRs). (3) Results: The incidence of pediatric asthma ERVs decreased, with a crude RR of 0.983 (95% CI: 0.98-0.986, p < 0.001). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) had an adjusted RR of 1.102 (95% CI: 1.037-1.172, p = 0.002) and a 7.7 µg/m3 increase, and air temperature had an adjusted RR of 0.813 (95% CI: 0.745-0.887, p < 0.001) comparing between the highest and lowest quarter air temperature associated with pediatric asthma ERVs. (4) Conclusions: This inquiry underscores the positive associations of PM2.5 and cold weather with pediatric asthma ERVs. The findings could guide the government to establish policies to reduce air pollution and promote children's health.

Analyzing COVID-19 and Air Pollution Effects on Pediatric Asthma Emergency Room Visits in Taiwan

(1) Background: An asthma exacerbation that is not relieved with medication typically requires an emergency room visit (ERV). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in Taiwan in January of 2020. The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric ERVs in Taiwan was limited. Our aim was to survey pediatric asthma ERVs in the COVID-19 era; (2) Methods: Data were collected from the health quality database of the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Administration from 2019 to 2021. Air pollution and climatic factors in Taipei were used to evaluate these relationships. Changes in the rates of pediatric asthma ERVs were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the impact of air pollution and climate change; (3) Results: The rate of pediatric asthma ERVs declined in different areas and at different hospital levels including medical centers, regional and local hospitals. Some air pollutants (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm, particulate matter ≤ 10 µm, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide) reduced during the COVID-19 lockdown. Ozone increased the relative risk (RR) of pediatric asthma ERVs during the COVID-19 period by 1.094 (95% CI: 1.095-1.12) per 1 ppb increase; (4) Conclusions: The rate of pediatric asthma ERVs declined during the COVID-19 pandemic and ozone has harmful effects. Based on these results, the government could reduce the number of pediatric asthma ERVs through healthcare programs, thereby promoting children's health.