Author/Authors :
Masoumi, Kambiz Department of Emergency Medicine - Imam Khomeini General Hospital - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Haddadzadeh Shoushtari, Maryam Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases Research Center - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Forouzan, Arash Department of Emergency Medicine - Imam Khomeini General Hospital - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Asgari Darian, Ali Department of Emergency Medicine - Imam Khomeini General Hospital - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Dastoorpoor, Maryam Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - Faculty of Public Health - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Ebrahimzadeh, Pegah Department of Emergency Medicine - Imam Khomeini General Hospital - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Aghababaeian, Hamidreza Nursing and Emergency Department - Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
Abstract :
Background. This study compares different risk factors in patients visiting a hospital during five rainfall-associated bronchospasm
epidemics in Ahvaz and those visiting on other occasions. Methods. This case-control study was conducted on 5307 patients with
bronchospasm admitted to the Emergency Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz (Iran) from late October to December
(as the epidemic) and 916 patients admitted from late January to March (as the nonepidemic) in 2011 to 2015. Results. A total of
the 41.7% of the cases and 48.8% of the controls had episodes of bronchospasm, suggesting a significant difference between the
two groups (𝑃 < 0.001). The mean concentrations of PM10, NO, NO2, and NO푥 pollutants (except O3) were significantly higher in
the nonepidemic periods (𝑃 < 0.05). The adjusted analysis showed a direct significant relationship between emergency respiratory
admissions and each unit of increase in NO and SO2 concentration during the epidemic periods and NO2 concentration during
the nonepidemic periods. During the epidemic periods, a direct and significant relationship was also observed between respiratory
admissions and each unit of increase in relative humidity and evaporation. Conclusion. The results suggest that certain pollutants
and weather variables are associated with the risk of emergency respiratory admissions during epidemic periods.
Keywords :
Bronchospasm Epidemics , Epidemiological Effects , Air Pollutants , Weather Variables