Evaluation of the Relationship Between Air Pollutants and Emergency Department Admissions with Childhood Asthma

Background: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the number of visits to a pediatric emergency department due to asthma attacks and air pollutants. Methods: In this ecological study, all pediatric patients who visited the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Istan...

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Main Authors: Yakup Söğütlü, Uğur Altaş, Tuğba Altıntaş, Zeynep Meva Altaş, Sevgi Akova, Mehmet Yaşar Özkars
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/24/2778
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author Yakup Söğütlü
Uğur Altaş
Tuğba Altıntaş
Zeynep Meva Altaş
Sevgi Akova
Mehmet Yaşar Özkars
author_facet Yakup Söğütlü
Uğur Altaş
Tuğba Altıntaş
Zeynep Meva Altaş
Sevgi Akova
Mehmet Yaşar Özkars
author_sort Yakup Söğütlü
collection DOAJ
description Background: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the number of visits to a pediatric emergency department due to asthma attacks and air pollutants. Methods: In this ecological study, all pediatric patients who visited the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Istanbul with asthma between January 2016 and December 2023 were included. The effect of air pollution on the number of patient visits was analyzed using a negative binomial regression model. Results: Based on the negative binomial model, a one-unit increase in SO<sub>2</sub> leads to a 0.020-unit decrease in the logarithm of the number of patient visits (<i>p</i> < 0.05). A one-unit increase in NO leads to a 0.040-unit increase in the logarithm of the number of patient visits (<i>p</i> < 0.05). According to factor analysis, as the levels of NO, NOx, PM2.5, NO<sub>2</sub>, and PM10 in the air increase, the number of patient visits also increases; however, as the level of SO<sub>2</sub> increases, the number of patient visits decreases. Conclusions: Families should be informed about environmental exposures for disease management of children with asthma. The confounding factors may also play a role in SO<sub>2</sub> level and the decrease in admissions due to asthma. Further studies are needed in this regard.
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spelling doaj-art-a6ace8ff6f164faa8cb9208f62573c392025-08-20T02:53:19ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182024-12-011424277810.3390/diagnostics14242778Evaluation of the Relationship Between Air Pollutants and Emergency Department Admissions with Childhood AsthmaYakup Söğütlü0Uğur Altaş1Tuğba Altıntaş2Zeynep Meva Altaş3Sevgi Akova4Mehmet Yaşar Özkars5Pediatric Emergency Medicine Clinic, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul 34764, TurkeyDepartment of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34764, TurkeyDepartment of Health Management, Usküdar University, Istanbul 34662, TurkeyMaltepe District Health Directorate, Istanbul 34841, TurkeyPediatric Emergency Medicine Clinic, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul 34764, TurkeyDepartment of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34764, TurkeyBackground: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the number of visits to a pediatric emergency department due to asthma attacks and air pollutants. Methods: In this ecological study, all pediatric patients who visited the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Istanbul with asthma between January 2016 and December 2023 were included. The effect of air pollution on the number of patient visits was analyzed using a negative binomial regression model. Results: Based on the negative binomial model, a one-unit increase in SO<sub>2</sub> leads to a 0.020-unit decrease in the logarithm of the number of patient visits (<i>p</i> < 0.05). A one-unit increase in NO leads to a 0.040-unit increase in the logarithm of the number of patient visits (<i>p</i> < 0.05). According to factor analysis, as the levels of NO, NOx, PM2.5, NO<sub>2</sub>, and PM10 in the air increase, the number of patient visits also increases; however, as the level of SO<sub>2</sub> increases, the number of patient visits decreases. Conclusions: Families should be informed about environmental exposures for disease management of children with asthma. The confounding factors may also play a role in SO<sub>2</sub> level and the decrease in admissions due to asthma. Further studies are needed in this regard.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/24/2778asthmachildrenemergency departmentair pollutants
spellingShingle Yakup Söğütlü
Uğur Altaş
Tuğba Altıntaş
Zeynep Meva Altaş
Sevgi Akova
Mehmet Yaşar Özkars
Evaluation of the Relationship Between Air Pollutants and Emergency Department Admissions with Childhood Asthma
Diagnostics
asthma
children
emergency department
air pollutants
title Evaluation of the Relationship Between Air Pollutants and Emergency Department Admissions with Childhood Asthma
title_full Evaluation of the Relationship Between Air Pollutants and Emergency Department Admissions with Childhood Asthma
title_fullStr Evaluation of the Relationship Between Air Pollutants and Emergency Department Admissions with Childhood Asthma
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the Relationship Between Air Pollutants and Emergency Department Admissions with Childhood Asthma
title_short Evaluation of the Relationship Between Air Pollutants and Emergency Department Admissions with Childhood Asthma
title_sort evaluation of the relationship between air pollutants and emergency department admissions with childhood asthma
topic asthma
children
emergency department
air pollutants
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/24/2778
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