Does the Hospital Admission of Patients with Respiratory Disease Increase in Izmir When the PM10 Level is High?

Özet

OBJECTIVES: Air pollution is caused by exhaust emissions from motor vehicles, fuel consumption for heating of residences, and especially emissions from industrial facilities around the world. The exposure to outdoor air pollution has been associated with acute andchronic health problems, from irritation to death. In this study, we aimed to determine whether air pollution increases the frequency ofhospital admission and whether there is a difference between disease subgroups, age, and gender, in the 2-year period in Izmir provincewhere - air pollution is increasing.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Collection of health data for the project compiled by the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the IzmirProvincial Health Directory Information Processing Department, and information obtained on the age groups, gender, admission time,and diagnosis of illness [International Classification of Diseases (ICD)10 code] on the residents of Izmir in 2016/2017.RESULTS: The daily numbers of patients with respiratory complaints and air pollution were found to be related. Both air pollution and theadmission rate increase in the January–March period. In male patients, the risk of hospitalization increases for 1.14%. Males had a higherincrease in the rate of diagnosis of chronic rhinitis (increase of 6.22%) than females who had an increase of 0.97%. It was observed thatthere was a 2.62% increase in the incidence of bronchiectasis, 2.53% in that of asthma, and 2.49% in that of dyspnea.CONCLUSION: There was a significant increase in respiratory diseases during the days when the air pollution was high, and this wasobserved as the upper respiratory tract infection and acute bronchitis in the young group and chronic respiratory diseases in the elderlygroup upon hospital admissions. The reduction of air pollutants and inhalation of clean air are the most important aspects in providinga healthier and longer life