Time-Series Analysis on Association between Air Pollutants and Hospital Outpatients for Respiratoty Diseases in A District, Harbin in 2015

Objective To evaluate the health effect of air pollutants(PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂)on hospital outpatients for respiratory diseases in Daoli District, Harbin.

Methods The pollution of air pollutants and the morbidity of outpatients for respiratory diseases in Daoli District, Harbin in 2015 was described. A time-series analysis on the relationship between air pollutants and daily outpatient visits for respiratory diseases was examined by a generalized linear model while controlling time trends, temperature and humidity, the day of a week, holiday and weather condition.

Results Daily average air pollutants, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂ and NO₂ in Daoli District, Harbin in 2015 were 62.51, 95.61, 36.97 and 55.01 μg/m³, respectively. The daily outpatients for respiratory diseases were increased in haze days (P < 0.05). In a single-pollutant model, there was a significant exposure-response association between PM_2.5, and SO₂ with daily outpatients for respiratory diseases; an increase of 10 μg/m³ PM_2.5 was associated with an increase of outpatients for respiratory diseases in the same day (lag of 0 day), RR=1.005 2 (95% CI:1.002 7~1.007 6); and an increase of 10 μg/m³ SO₂ was associated with an increase of outpatients for respiratory diseases in the next day (lag of 1 day), RR=1.005 1(95%CI:1.002 5~1.007 6), which showed the most significant influence of PM_2.5 and SO₂ on the daily outpatients for respiratory diseases.

Conclusion The pollution of PM_2.5 and SO₂ had adverse effects on daily outpatients for respiratory diseases in Daoli District, Harbin.