Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Outpatient Visits for Acute Bronchitis in a Chinese City.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the short-term association between outdoor air pollution and outpatient visits for acute bronchitis, which is a rare subject of research in the mainland of China.


METHODS
A time-series analysis was conducted to examine the association of outdoor air pollutants with hospital outpatient visits in Shanghai by using two-year daily data (2010-2011).


RESULTS
Outdoor air pollution was found to be associated with an increased risk of outpatient visits for acute bronchitis in Shanghai. The effect estimates of air pollutants varied with the lag structures of the concentrations of the pollutants. For lag06, a 10 μg/m(3) increase in the concentrations of PM10, SO(2), and NO(2) corresponded to 0.94% (95% CI: 0.83%, 1.05%), 11.12% (95% CI: 10.76%, 11.48%), and 4.84% (95% CI: 4.49%, 5.18%) increases in hospital visits for acute bronchitis, respectively. These associations appeared to be stronger in females (P<0.05). Between-age differences were significant for SO(2) (P<0.05), and between-season differences were also significant for SO(2) (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our analyses have provided the first evidence that the current air pollution level in China has an effect on acute bronchitis and that the rationale for further limiting air pollution levels in Shanghai should be strengthened.
Department of Occupational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200000, China; Department of Occupational Medicine, Shanghai Yangpu District Central Hospital, Shanghai 200000, China; Pudong New Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200000, China.
Li Juan
LJ
Guo
School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China.
Ang
A
Zhao
School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China;Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China; Research Institute for the Changing Global Environment and Fudan Tyndall Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China.
Ren Jie
RJ
Chen
School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China;Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China; Research Institute for the Changing Global Environment and Fudan Tyndall Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai 200000, China.
Hai Dong
HD
Kan
Department of Occupational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200000, China; Department of Occupational Medicine, Shanghai Yangpu District Central Hospital, Shanghai 200000, China.
Xing Ya
XY
Kuang
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D055815:Young Adult
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
Acute bronchitis; Air pollution; Outpatient visits; Time-series