The pilot study of short-term correlation between air quality index and the outpatient allergic rhinitis cases in autumn and winter in Beijing

Abstract

Objectives To determine the short-term relationship between the number of old allergic rhinitis(AR) patients and the air quality index(AQI) data in autumn and winter in Beijing. Methods Between October 2015 and December 2015, the AQI index data and the number of old outpatients with AR in Beijing Hospital were collected and the relation between them was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. Results The AR patients aged over 60 were 1 892 cases (36.72% of the total number of outpatients). The males were 953 (50.4%), The females were 939 (49.6%). The number of old outpatients with AT changed from 4/d to 39/d. When the AQI rised, the total number of old outpatients was increased; however, when the AQI rised to a certain extent, especially to the serious pollution value (>300), the number of old outpatients was declined. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the amount of old AR patients and the AQI in the high incidence of air pollution seasons in Beijing (r=-0.311, P<0.01). Conclusions Air pollution is one of the most important reasons for the increased rate of AR patients in the elderly. Key words: Rhinitis, allergic, seasonal; Air pollution