Abstract
Background:Strong epidemiological evidence suggests that air pollution plays a significant role in the exacerbation of allergic respiratory diseases. This study aimed to assess the potential relationship between daily levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and emergency department (ED) visits for allergic diseases.Materials and Methods:Data regarding ED visits for allergic respiratory diseases were routinely collected from the EDs in the Zlatibor district, and the General Hospital, Užice. The daily average concentrations of SO2 were obtained from the regional automatic air quality monitoring stations. All data were collected from June 2012 to July 2014. A time-stratified case-crossover design was used. Crude odds ratios (ORs) and ORs adjusted for weather conditions were calculated using conditional logistic regression.Results:Statistically significant associations were seen between 0-day lagged exposure to SO2 and ED visits for all allergic diseases (OR = 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–2.48; P = 0.028) and between 2-day lagged exposure to SO2 and ED visits for asthma with allergic rhinitis (OR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.03–3.88; P = 0.042). These results were adjusted for temperature, temperature2, and humidity.Conclusion:Our results suggest that short-term exposure to SO2 conferred an increased risk of ED visits for allergic respiratory diseases, particularly for asthma with concomitant allergic rhinitis.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
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.