title: [Analysis of the quality of data issued from Beirut's hospitals in order to measure short-term health effects of air pollution].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of air pollution on human health have been the subject of much public health research. Several techniques and methods of analysis have been developed. Thus, Beirut Air Pollution and Health Effects (BAPHE) was designed to develop a methodology adapted to the context of the city of Beirut in order to quantify the short-term health effects of air pollution.
  
  
  METHODS
  The quality of data collected from emergency units was analyzed in order to properly estimate hospitalizations via these units. This study examined the process of selecting and validating health and pollution indicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The different sources of data from emergency units were not correlated. BAPHE was therefore reoriented towards collecting health data from the emergency registry of each hospital. A pilot study determined the appropriate health indicators for BAPHE and created a classification methodology for data collection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Lebanon, several studies have attempted to indirectly assess the impact of air pollution on health. They had limitations and weaknesses and offered no recommendations regarding the sources and quality of data. The present analysis will be useful for BAPHE and for planning further studies.
authors.affiliation: Département de biologie, FS, université Saint-Joseph, campus des sciences et technologies, Mar Roukos, Mkalles, BP 11-514 Riad el Solh, Beyrouth 11072050, Liban; EPAR UMR-S 707 Inserm & UPMC Paris 6, faculté de médecine Saint-Antoine, bureaux 803-4-6, 8(e) étage, 27, rue de Chaligny, 75571 Paris cedex 12, France. Electronic address: myriam.mrad@usj.edu.lb.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mrad Nakhlé
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ziade
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abboud
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerard
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zaarour
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dabar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abdel Massih
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zoghbi
authors.forename: M-L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Coussa-Koniski
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Annesi-Maesano
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D009017:Morbidity; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012107:Research Design; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Atmospheric pollution; Health indicator; Hospitalisations; Hospitalization; Indicateur de santé; Pollution atmosphérique; Quality; Qualité