Air pollution and hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a tropical city: Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
This study was undertaken to determine whether there is an association between air pollutants levels and hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Hospital admissions for COPD and ambient air pollution data for Kaohsiung were obtained for the period from 1996 to 2003. The odds ratio 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 sulphur dioxide (SO2). On cool days (< 25 degrees C), all pollutants were significantly associated with COPD 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 COPD.
Lee
I-Ming
IM
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Tsai
Shang-Shyue
SS
Chang
Chih-Ching
CC
Ho
Chi-Kung
CK
Yang
Chun-Yuh
CY
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000633:toxicity; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010126:Ozone / Q000633:toxicity; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide