Abstract
Short-term exposure to ambient air pollution has been proven to result in respiratory, cardiovascular, and digestive diseases, leading to increased emergency room visits (ERVs). Abdominal pain complaints provide a large proportion of the ERVs, as yet few studies have focused on the correlations between ambient air pollution and abdominal pain, especially in emergency departments within China. Daily data for daily ERVs were collected in Wuhan, China (from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018), including air pollution concentration (SO2, NO2, PM2.5, PM10, CO, and O3), and meteorological variables. We conducted a time-series study to investigate the potential correlation between six ambient air pollutants and ERVs for abdominal pain and their effects, in different genders, ages, and seasons. A total of 16,318 abdominal pain ERVs were identified during the study period. A 10-μg/m3 increase in concentration of SO2, NO2, PM2.5, PM10, CO, and O3 corresponded respectively to incremental increases in abdominal pain of 4.89% (95% confidence interval [CI]: - 1.50-11.70), 1.85% (95% CI: - 0.29-4.03), 0.83% (95% CI: - 0.05-1.72), - 0.22% (95% CI: - 0.73-0.30), 0.24% (95% CI: 0.08-0.40), and 0.86% (95% CI: 0.04 - 1.69). We observed significant correlations between CO and O3 and increases in daily abdominal pain ERVs and positive but insignificant correlations between the other pollutants and ERVs (except PM10). The effects were stronger for females (especially SO2 and O3: 13.53% vs. - 2.46%; 1.20% vs. 0.47%, respectively) and younger people (especially CO and O3: 0.25% vs. 0.01%; 1.36% vs. 0.15%, respectively). Males (1.38% vs. 0.87%) and elders (1.27% vs. 0.99%) were more likely to be affected by PM2.5. The correlations with PM2.5 were stronger in cool seasons (1.25% vs. - 0.07%) while the correlation with CO was stronger in warm seasons (0.47% vs. 0.14%). Our time-series study suggests that short-term exposure to air pollution (especially CO and O3) was positively correlated with ERVs for abdominal pain in Wuhan, China, and that the effects varied by season, gender and age. These data can add evidence on how air pollutants affect the human body and may prompt hospitals to take specific precautions on polluted days and maintain order in emergency departments made busier due to the pollution.
Highlights
IntroductionThere has been an accumulation of articles revealing the effects of air pollution on emergency departments, (Rodopoulou, Samoli et al 2015, Chen, Zheng et al 2019) which plays a significant role in dealing with public health events, meeting the needs of patients and improving the treatment success rate
The correlations of PM2.5 and PM10 were stronger in cool seasons, while the correlation of CO was stronger in warm seasons
Exposure to the particulate matter may lead to urolithiasis increase, by causing urine volume decreases through vascular endothelial injury, systemic inflammation, atherosclerosis and microvascular changes.(Sun, Wang et al 2005, Chow, Watson et al 2006) Air pollution exposure can increase the hospitalizations for digestive diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcers, and enteritis,(Ananthakrishnan, McGinley et al 2011, Xu, Kan et al 2016, Tsai, Chiu et al 2019, Gu, Shi et al 2020) the mechanisms remain unclear and inconclusive
Summary
There has been an accumulation of articles revealing the effects of air pollution on emergency departments, (Rodopoulou, Samoli et al 2015, Chen, Zheng et al 2019) which plays a significant role in dealing with public health events, meeting the needs of patients and improving the treatment success rate. Studies focus the pollution effects on specific diseases or symptoms in ERVs, such as abdominal, are still lacking. There are few studies focused on the correlations between ambient air pollution and abdominal pain, especially in emergency departments in China
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callDisclaimer: 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.
