Abstract:
Objective To explore the effect of ambient PM2.5 exposure on the outpatient number for respiratory diseases in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Methods The clinical data of outpatient visits for respiratory diseases were collected in a general hospital, a pediatric hospital, and a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospital in Chaoyang District, Beijing in 2013. Meanwhile, daily average PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and PM10 concentrations, temperature, and relative humidity in Chaoyang District, Beijing during the same period were collected as well. The relationship between PM2.5 concentrations and outpatient number was analyzed using a generalized additive model (GAM).
Results PM2.5 concentrations had a significant impact on the outpatient number for respiratory diseases in the general hospital and the pediatric hospital (P < 0.05) but not for the TCM hospital (P>0.05). For every increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM2.5, the excess risks for outpatient visits for respiratory diseases were 0.239 4 (0.099 9~0.378 6) and 0.099 9 (0.010 0~0.199 6), respectively, in the general hospital and the pediatric hospital, with a lag effect.
Conclusion An increase in the atmospheric PM2.5 concentration in Chaoyang District, Beijing may promote outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in general hospitals and pediatric hospitals.