Air pollution and emergency department visits for epistaxis. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Szyszkowicz, M.; Shutt, R.; Kousha, T.; Rowe, B.H.
• Is Part Of: Clinical otolaryngology. Volume 39:Number 6(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 345
• Page End: 351
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51005
• DOI: 10.1111/coa.12296
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1749-4478

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="coa12295-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="coa12296-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>This study aimed to evaluate the association between outdoor ambient air pollution and emergency department (ED) visits for epistaxis.</p> </sec> <sec id="coa12296-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Cross‐sectional study, case–crossover design.</p> </sec> <sec id="coa12296-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="coa12296-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Participants</title> <p>The analysis was performed for the population as a whole (<italic>N</italic> = 15 038) and split by sex: males (<italic>N</italic> = 8587) and females (<italic>N</italic> = 6451).</p> </sec> <sec id="coa12296-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Main outcome measures</title> <p>We explored associations between ambient concentrations of air pollutants (CO, NO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub>, O<sub>3</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>) lagged by 0–4 days and ED visits for epistaxis in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.</p> </sec> <sec id="coa12296-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Odds ratios (ORs) 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<sub>3</sub> 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<sub>10</sub> with IQR = 15 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, OR = 1.02 (1.00–1.05, lag 3). These results were stronger for older (age > 24 years) females.</p> </sec> <sec id="coa12296-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>These findings suggest that there may be an association between air pollutant exposure, specifically ozone and PM<sub>10</sub>, and the number of ED visits for epistaxis.</p> </sec> </abstract>