Abstract

Context: This research used International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) coding from 10 years of emergency department (ED) data (2, 951, 878 diagnosed visits) to identify diseases of the respiratory system (ICD-9: 460-519). The study estimates the potential associations of ED visits with ozone. Design: The cases of the ED visits from this group (N=292, 285) were linked to the measurements of ambient ground-level ozone. A time-stratified case-crossover design was applied to match case and control periods. Conditional logistic regression was used to realize the case-crossover technique. Temperature and relative humidity were adjusted in the models in the form of natural splines. Results: The results for diseases of the respiratory system (ICD-9: 460-519) confirmed a strong association between presentations and ambient ozone. Estimated odds ratios were positive and statistically significant for each considered lag (lag 0–7 days) of ozone exposure. Positive and statistically significant associations with ozone exposure were also obtained for the diseases of the skin and sense organs. Conclusion: These results confirm associations between ambient ozone concentrations and respiratory disease presentations to EDs. Efforts to reduce ozone levels in the atmosphere may mitigate ED presentations to EDs for respiratory problems.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.