Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkuo and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2011 Mar;29(1):34-41.
The impact of air pollution on asthma in children in different age group has not been well defined.
This study aimed to evaluate the association between seasonal variations in air pollution and asthma hospitalization of children within a two-year period.
Using the National Health Insurance database, seasonal variations in hospitalization trends in children with a primary diagnosis of asthma (International Classification of Disease 9th revision, code 493) for patients aged < 18 years from 2001 to 2002 were investigated. Data on the average concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone(O(3)), sulphur dioxide (SO(2)), and particles with aerodynamic diameter < 10 microm (PM(10)) for each month were obtained from the Environmental Protection Department through 71 stations of air quality monitor distributed nationwide. PSI value (pollutants standard index)> 100 was considered poor air quality. Seasonal variations in asthma admissions were compared to the air pollution quality data using Spearman's rank correlation.
Asthma hospitalization was not related to the number of days when the PSI was > 100 during the 24-months period (r = -0.361; p = 0.083). However, it was significantly associated with seasonal changes in the concentration of each pollutant. The most strongly related air pollutant variable was PM(10) (standardized coefficients 0.384), followed by 0(3) (standardized coefficients 0.255) and SO(2) (standardized coefficients 0.162) concentrations. The association of seasonal changes in asthma hospitalization with these pollutants was greater in pre-school and school age children. Temperature and rainfall in all seasons were not related to asthma hospitalization. None of the pollutants were associated with seasonal variations in admission rate for adolescents.
Seasonal variations of asthma hospitalization among preschool children are associated with concentration of air pollutants.
空气污染对不同年龄段儿童哮喘的影响尚未得到明确界定。
本研究旨在评估两年内空气污染季节性变化与儿童哮喘住院之间的关联。
利用国家健康保险数据库，对 2001 年至 2002 年期间年龄<18 岁的儿童哮喘（国际疾病分类第 9 版，代码 493）的主要诊断进行住院趋势的季节性变化分析。通过全国 71 个空气质量监测站，从环境保护署获得了每个月二氧化氮（NO2）、一氧化碳（CO）、臭氧（O3）、二氧化硫（SO2）和空气动力学直径<10 微米（PM10）的平均浓度数据。PSI 值（污染物标准指数）>100 被认为空气质量较差。使用 Spearman 秩相关比较哮喘入院季节性变化与空气质量数据。
哮喘住院与 24 个月期间 PSI>100 的天数无关（r=-0.361，p=0.083）。然而，它与每种污染物的季节性变化显著相关。与哮喘住院最相关的空气污染物变量是 PM10（标准化系数 0.384），其次是 O3（标准化系数 0.255）和 SO2（标准化系数 0.162）浓度。哮喘住院季节性变化与这些污染物的相关性在校前和学龄儿童中更大。所有季节的温度和降雨量与哮喘住院无关。在所有季节，没有污染物与青少年入院率的季节性变化相关。
学龄前儿童哮喘住院的季节性变化与空气污染物浓度有关。
