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Association Between Air Pollutants and Pediatric Respiratory Outpatient Visits in Zhoushan, China
Wen-Yi Liu1,2,3, Jing-Ping Yi4, Leiyu Shi1
1Department of Health Policy Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Insights
High levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are linked to increased pediatric respiratory visits in coastal cities. This finding can inform public health policies and resource allocation for child respiratory health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Air pollution is a growing concern for public health, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like children.
- Respiratory illnesses in children represent a significant burden on healthcare systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time-series association between ambient air pollution and pediatric respiratory outpatient visits.
- To analyze the relationship in Zhoushan city, China, over an eight-year period.
Main Methods:
- Time series analysis was employed to examine data from children (0-18 years) attending pediatric respiratory clinics.
- A lag model was utilized to determine the relationship between air pollutant concentrations and outpatient visits.
Main Results:
- A 10 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 4-10% rise in pediatric respiratory outpatient visits.
- The optimal model indicated a cumulative effect with a lag of 1-7 days.
Conclusions:
- Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) shows a significant correlation with pediatric respiratory outpatient visits.
- Findings can support health resource allocation and risk assessment strategies for child respiratory health.
Objective:
This study aimed to explore the time-series relationship between air pollutants and the number of children's respiratory outpatient visits in coastal cities.
Methods:
We used time series analysis to investigate the association between air pollution levels and pediatric respiratory outpatient visits in Zhoushan city, China. The population was selected from children aged 0-18 who had been in pediatric respiratory clinics for eight consecutive years from 2014 to 2020. After describing the population and weather characteristics, a lag model was used to explore the relationship between outpatient visits and air pollution.
Results:
We recorded annual outpatient visits for different respiratory diseases in children. The best synergy lag model found a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 for every 4-10% increase in the number of pediatric respiratory outpatient visits (P < 0.05). The cumulative effect of an increase in the number of daily pediatric respiratory clinics with a lag of 1-7 days was the best model.
Conclusions:
PM2.5 is significantly related to the number of respiratory outpatient visits of children, which can aid in formulating policies for health resource allocation and health risk assessment strategies.
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