title: Ambient ozone and emergency department visits for cellulitis.
abstract: Objectives were to assess and estimate an association between exposure to ground-level ozone and emergency department (ED) visits for cellulitis. All ED visits for cellulitis in Edmonton, Canada, in the period April 1992-March 2002 (N = 69,547) were examined. Case-crossover design was applied to estimate odds ratio (OR, and 95% confidence interval) per one interquartile range (IQR) increase in ozone concentration (IQR = 14.0 ppb). Delay of ED visit relating to exposure was probed using 0- to 5-day exposure lags. For all patients in the all months (January-December) and lags 0 to 2 days, OR = 1.05 (1.02, 1.07). For male patients during the cold months (October-March): OR = 1.05 (1.02, 1.09) for lags 0 and 2 and OR = 1.06 (1.02, 1.10) for lag 3. For female patients in the warm months (April-September): OR = 1.12 (1.06, 1.18) for lags 1 and 2. Cellulitis developing on uncovered (more exposed) skin was analyzed separately, observed effects being stronger. Cellulitis may be associated with exposure to ambient ground level ozone; the exposure may facilitate cellulitis infection and aggravate acute symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Population Studies Division, Health Canada, 269 Laurier Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada. mietek.szyszkowicz@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Mieczysław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szyszkowicz
authors.forename: Eugeniusz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porada
authors.forename: Gilaad G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D010126:Ozone