Correlation between Air Quality and Daily Outpatient Visits for Pediatric Respiratory Diseases

Objective To investigate the correlation between concentrations of atmospheric pollutants and daily outpatient visits for pediatric respiratory diseases in Qingyang, Gansu province.

Methods The air quality monitoring data of Qingyang from November 1, 2016 to October 30, 2017 and the daily outpatient visits for pediatric respiratory diseases in Qingyang People's Hospital during the same period were collected. Heating period (November 2016 to March 2017) and non-heating period (April to October 2017) were compared in terms of daily outpatient visits and concentrations of atmospheric pollutants. Spearman correlation analysis and stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis were used to investigate the influence of atmospheric pollutants on pediatric respiratory diseases in heating and non-heating periods.

Results Both the daily outpatient visits for pediatric respiratory diseases and the concentrations of various atmospheric pollutants in the heating period were significantly higher than those in the non-heating period (both P < 0.05). All the year round, daily concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were lower than the Ambient Air Quality Grade Ⅱ Standard, daily concentrations of SO₂ and NO₂ were lower than the Ambient Air Quality Grade Ⅰ Standard. Pediatric respiratory diseases were correlated with daily mean concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, and O₃ by the Spearsman correlation analysis(P < 0.05), but to different degrees in the heating and non-heating periods.

Conclusion The concentrations of air pollutants measured were lower than the Ambient Air Quality Grade Ⅱ Standard, in Qingyang, and higher in heating period than non-heating period. The increased daily outpatient visits for pediatric respiratory diseases in the heating period suggests that the increased concentrations of atmospheric pollutants can increase the risk of respiratory diseases in children.