title: Fine particulate air pollution and outpatient department visits for headache in Taipei, Taiwan.
abstract: This study was undertaken to determine whether there was an association between fine particle matter (PM(2.5)) levels and daily outpatient department visits (OPD) for headaches in Taipei, Taiwan. Daily OPD visits for headaches and ambient air pollution data for Taipei were obtained for the period 2006-2011. The relative risk of visits for OPD headaches was estimated using a case-crossover approach, controlling for weather variables, day of the week, seasonality, and long-term time trends. For the single-pollutant model (without adjustment for other pollutants), increased OPD visits for headaches were significantly associated with levels of PM(2.5) both on warm days (>23°C) and cool days (<23°C), with an interquartile range rise associated with a 12% (95% CI = 10-14%) and 3% (95% CI = 1-5%) elevation in OPD visits for headaches, respectively. In the two-pollutant models, PM(2.5) remained significant after inclusion of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) or ozone (O₃) on both warm and cool days. This study provides evidence that higher levels of PM(2.5) increase the risk of OPD visits for headaches in Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: a Department of Environmental and Occupational Health , National Cheng Kung University , Tainan , Taiwan , Taiwan.
authors: Chih-Ching
authors: CC
authors: Chang
authors: Hui-Fen
authors: HF
authors: Chiu
authors: Chun-Yuh
authors: CY
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009313:National Health Programs; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012306:Risk; D012621:Seasons; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone