title: Air pollution and hospital admissions for asthma in a tropical city: Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
abstract: This study was undertaken to determine whether there is an association between air pollutants levels and hospital admissions for asthma in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Hospital admissions for asthma and ambient air pollution data for Kaohsiung were obtained for the period from 1996 through 2003. The relative risk of hospital admission was estimated using a case-crossover approach, controlling for weather variables, day of the week, seasonality, and long-term time trends. In the single-pollutant models, on warm days (> or = 25 degrees C) statistically significant positive associations were found in all pollutants except sulfur dioxide (SO2). On cool days (< or = 25 degrees C) all pollutants were significantly associated with asthma admissions For the two pollutant models, CO and O3 were significant in combination with each of the other four pollutants on warm days. On cool days NO2 remained statistically significant in all the two-pollutant models. This study provides evidence that higher levels of ambient pollutants increase the risk of hospital admissions for asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care Administration, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shang-Shyue
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Meng-Hsuan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hui-Fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Trong-Neng
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chun-Yuh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006760:Hospitalization; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008954:Models, Biological; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D010126:Ozone; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide