Short-term effect of air pollution on asthma patient visits in Shanghai area and assessment of economic costs.

BACKGROUNDS

Shanghai, in China, is one of the highest incidence cities for asthma morbidity. However, few studies have systemically explored the association of ambient air pollutants and asthma patients with economic costs.

OBJECTIVES

The study researched the link of short-term ambient air pollutants exposure and asthma patients in Shanghai. Furthermore, the economic cost was also assessed.

METHODS

We applied the generalized addictive model (GAM) to analyze the association between ambient air pollutants and asthma patients with economic costs assessment.

RESULTS

We investigated a total of 7200 asthma patient visits (inhabitant in Shanghai). A 10 µg m increase in the current day concentrations of SO, CO, NO, PM, O and PM corresponded to increase of 3.79% [95% CI: 0.84%, 6.83%], 0.27% [95% CI: 0.14%, 0.40%], 0.63% [95% CI: - 0.81%, 2.10%], 1.11% [95% CI: 0.38%, 1.85%], 0.23% [95% CI: 0.31%, 078%] and 1.27% [95% CI: 0.29%, 2.26%] in daily asthma patient visits. In economic cost level, the economic cost of asthma patients were attributed to ambient air pollutants (SO, CO, NO, PM, O and PM) with 197 million USD losses per year. Among, the economic cost of asthma patient visits were attributed to SO, CO, NO, PM, O and PM with 101.30, 7.46, 17.15, 30.18, 6.39 and 34.50 million USD loss per year, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term exposure to SO, CO, NO, PM, O and PM were linked to asthma patient visits increase in Shanghai areas. The economic cost of asthma patient visits were attributed to ambient air pollutants (SO, CO, O, PM, NO and PM) with 197 million USD losses per year. The study strengthen our fundamental comprehending of impacts of ambient air pollutants on human health and economy burden.