대전광역시 초미세먼지 및 오존과 알레르기비염으로 인한 외래 및 응급실 방문 간의 연관성

Association of PM2.5 and O3 with Outpatient and Emergency Department Visits for Allergic Rhinitis in Daejeon, South Korea

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common allergic diseases. Environmental factors such as air pollution from vehicles and factories and changes in climate serve as risk factors. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between ozone (O3) concentrations and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and outpatient department (OPD) and emergency department (ED) visits for AR in Daejeon, South Korea from 2013 through 2017. Methods: Data from the National Health Insurance Service Environmental Database from 2013 through 2017 were utilized in this study. A generalized additive model with quasi–Poisson regression was used to assess the association between air pollutants and AR. Lag effects of air pollutants were considered for up to seven days. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, age, and season. Results: The average daily number of OPD visits for AR was 11,850, and the average daily number of ED visits was 23. Both PM2.5 and O3 were found to influence OPD and ED visits for AR. The effects of PM2.5 and O3 exhibited a similar pattern on both OPD and ED visits for AR. In the subgroup analysis, the strongest effects of PM2.5 on OPD visits were observed among females and individuals aged 5~19 and those on ED visits were observed among females and individuals aged 0~4. O3 showed the most significant effect both on OPD and ED visits among people aged 5~19. In the seasonal analysis, the PM2.5 effect on OPD visits was stronger in the cold season and that on ED visits was stronger in the warm season. The O3 effect both on OPD and ED visits was stronger in the cold season. Conclusions: This study confirmed the association between air pollutants and OPD and ED visits for AR in Daejeon. The findings can help establish strategies for managing AR in the city.