Relationship Between Air Pollutants and the Incidence of Epistaxis in Yangzhou

Objectives: This project aims to explore the relationship between the air quality index (AQI), the concentration of 6 air pollutants, and the incidence of epistaxis in Yangzhou. Also, to provide reference information for the prevention and treatment of epistaxis. Methods: Data of patients with epistaxis admitted to the Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University from January 2017 to December 2021 were collected. In addition, the local AQI and the concentrations of 6 air pollutants, namely particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O₃), were analyzed at the time of onset. Furthermore, the correlation with the incidence of epistaxis has been analyzed. Results: From 2017 to 2021, there were 24,721 patients with epistaxis aged from 0 to 17 years old while male patients were more than females. The incidence was higher in April, May, and June. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of daily epistaxis in different months and under AQI conditions (P < .05). Spearman's correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the number of daily epistaxis and the concentrations of AQI, CO, NO₂, O₃, PM2.5, PM10, and SO₂ in Yangzhou, in which O₃, PM10, and SO₂ were highly correlated with the average number of daily epistaxis, and there was no obvious time lag effect of air pollutants on epistaxis. Conclusion: Epistaxis in the Yangzhou area is more common in males, mostly occurs in 0 to 17 years old, with seasonal. There was also a positive correlation between the incidence of epistaxis and air pollutants in Yangzhou. Therefore, by reducing the AQI index in daily life, and reducing the concentration of environmental pollutants in the air, the occurrence of epistaxis could be prevented and reduced to a certain extent.