Effects of air pollutants and temperature on the number of asthma outpatient visits in Hohhot, China

Although numerous studies have linked asthma to air temperature and pollution, few studies have examined their interactive effects on asthma outpatient visits. This study investigated how air pollutants and their interactions with temperature affect asthma outpatient visits in a city in northern Chinaduring the time period 2018 - 2020 . . As the results, 24,163 asthma outpatients were recorded, a 10-μg/m³ increase in PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂, and NO₂ concentrations was associated with significant increases in visits of 3.47% (95% CI: 2.35%–4.60%), 0.83% (95% CI: 0.36%–1.30%), 3.17% (95% CI: 1.47%–4.90%), and 8.90% (95% CI: 6.09%–11.79%), respectively. The effect was stronger in females than males, and stronger in the elderly (≥65 years) than among the young. The interaction between low temperatures and high air pollution levels significantly increased the number of asthma outpatient visits. This study emphasizesthe importance of reducing air pollution in order to lessen the effects of cold.

尽管已有大量研究将哮喘与气温及空气污染相关联，但鲜有探讨二者交互作用对哮喘门诊就诊量影响的相关研究。本研究针对中国北方某城市2018-2020年的数据，探讨了空气污染物及其与气温的交互作用对哮喘门诊就诊量的影响。研究期间共记录到24163例哮喘门诊病例；当可吸入颗粒物（PM₁₀）、细颗粒物（PM₂.₅）、二氧化硫（SO₂）及二氧化氮（NO₂）浓度每升高10μg/m³时，就诊量分别显著增加3.47%（95%置信区间：2.35%~4.60%）、0.83%（95%置信区间：0.36%~1.30%）、3.17%（95%置信区间：1.47%~4.90%）及8.90%（95%置信区间：6.09%~11.79%）。该效应在女性群体中强于男性，在老年人群（≥65岁）中亦强于青年人群。低温与高空气污染水平的交互作用可显著提升哮喘门诊就诊量。本研究强调，减少空气污染对于缓解低温带来的哮喘就诊风险具有重要意义。