Effects of short-term exposure to Particulate Matter on Emergency Department admissions for Asthma Exacerbation

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Rising pollution plays a crucial role in developing several respiratory diseases. Particulate Matter (PM)-induced Asthma Exacerbation is one of the most life-threating events. <b>Objectives:</b> To assess the correlation between progressive PM levels and Asthma Exacerbation events, we investigated the role of short-term PM exposure in the increase of Emergency Department (ED) admissions for these events in Brescia, an important European industrial city with yearly high levels of pollution. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted an analysis of clinical records of ED admissions for Asthma Exacerbation, starting from January 2014 to December 2017. Daily PM levels were collected from the Environmental Protection Regional Agency (ARPA). We performed a time-series analysis using a Poisson regression model with single and multiple day-lag. Results were expressed as Relative Risk (RR) and Excess of Relative Risk (ER) of Asthma Exacerbation-related ED admissions, over a 10µg/m3 increase in PM10 and PM2.5 concentration. <b>Results:</b> We included 543 admissions. The time-series study revealed an increase of the RR (CI95%) for Asthma Exacerbation-related ED admissions of 1.24 with an ER of 24.15% for PM2.5 at lag0-1 (p&lt;0.05). For the same pollutant we also documented a RR (CI95%) of 1.12 with an ER of 12.53% at lag0-5 (p≤0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> Short-term PM exposure acts a critical role in inducing Asthma Exacerbation events, especially PM2.5.