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Air pollution and emergency department visits for epistaxis
Author(s) -
Szyszkowicz M.,
Shutt R.,
Kousha T.,
Rowe B.H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/coa.12296
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , emergency department , odds ratio , confidence interval , air pollutants , air pollution , cross sectional study , environmental health , demography , chemistry , organic chemistry , pathology , psychiatry , sociology
Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the association between outdoor ambient air pollution and emergency department ( ED ) visits for epistaxis. Design Cross‐sectional study, case–crossover design. Setting ED visit data were obtained for Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, for a period of 10 years starting 1 April 1992 and ending March 31st of 2002. The data on ED visits were supplied by Capital Health for the five major acute care hospitals in the Edmonton area. Participants The analysis was performed for the population as a whole ( N = 15 038) and split by sex: males ( N = 8587) and females ( N = 6451). Main outcome measures We explored associations between ambient concentrations of air pollutants ( CO , NO 2 , SO 2 , O 3 , PM 10 , PM 2.5 ) lagged by 0–4 days and ED visits for epistaxis in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Results Odds ratios ( OR s) and their 95% confidence intervals ( CI ) were reported for an increase in an interquartile range ( IQR ) of pollutant concentration. We obtained positive and statistically significant results for all patients with epistaxis; exposure to O 3 with IQR = 14 ppb, OR = 1.05 (95% CI : 1.00–1.09, lag 0), and for males (age < 25 years), OR = 1.16 (1.03–1.30), lag 4; and to PM 10 with IQR = 15 μg/m 3 , OR = 1.02 (1.00–1.05, lag 3). These results were stronger for older (age > 24 years) females. Conclusions These findings suggest that there may be an association between air pollutant exposure, specifically ozone and PM 10 , and the number of ED visits for epistaxis.