Ambient air pollution, weather changes and outpatient visits for allergic conjunctivitis: A retrospective registry study

Abstract

Allergic conjunctivitis is a common problem that significantly impairs patients’ quality of life. Whether air pollution serves as a risk factor for the development of allergic conjunctivitis remains elusive. In this paper, we assess the relationship between air pollutants and weather conditions with outpatient visits for allergic conjunctivitis. By using a time-series analysis based on the largest dataset ever assembled to date, we found that the number of outpatient visits for allergic conjunctivitis was significantly correlated with the levels of NO2, O3, and temperature, while its association with humidity was statistically marginal. No associations between PM10, PM2.5, SO2, or wind velocity and outpatient visits were seen. Subgroup analyses showed that sex seemed to modify the effects of humidity on outpatient visits for allergic conjunctivitis, but not for NO2, O3, or temperature. People younger than 40 were found to be susceptible to changes of all four parameters, while those older than 40 were only consistently affected by NO2 levels. Our findings revealed that higher levels of ambient NO2, O3, and temperature increase the chances of outpatient visits for allergic conjunctivitis. Ambient air pollution and weather changes may contribute to the worsening of allergic conjunctivitis.

Seasonal and Temporal Trends in Childhood Conjunctivitis in Burkina Faso

“…15 Adenoviral epidemics in regions with poor access to potable water occur concurrent to the rainy season, possibly because of fecal contamination of drinking and bathing water from runoff of contaminated surface water. Consistent with our hypothesis, allergic conjunctivitis has been shown to correlate with increased temperature in China 16 and peaks in April-May in the United States. 1 However, seasonal patterns in nonallergic conjunctivitis have also been noted.…”

Feasibility study of the eye drops composition with vitamins for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis

“…На течение аллергического конъюнктивита может повлиять и качественный состав атмосферного воздуха, который свидетельствует о неблагоприятной экологической ситуации или же о географическом расположении. Так при увеличении в атмосферном воздухе концентрации диоксида азота, наблюдалось увеличение количества обращений с жалобами на аллергический конъюнктивит [7]. Повышенное содержание озона в атмосферном воздухе не только оказывает воздействие на целостность слизистой оболочки глаза, но также и усугубляет те-чение аллергического конъюнктивита, так как в результате его воздействия будет наблюдаться уменьшение выработки слёзной жидкости, что может стать причиной дополнительного дискомфорта [8].…”

Relationship between air pollution and outpatient visits for nonspecific conjunctivitis in Taiwan

“…The ill effects of air pollution on human eyes are mostly irritation and inflammation, with conjunctivitis being a significant problem (9,(12)(13)(14)(15). Many research investigations have attempted to discover the effects of environmental toxins on the ocular surface.…”

“…Because of the limitation of traditional statistics (e.g., regression analysis), range-type data is difficult to be analyzed. Most of them are analyzed by minimum / maximum value (9), mean value (12,13,15), and cumulative value. Most studies developed linear regression model (12,13,15) or negative binomial regression model (14) using average over the period for the relationship between nonspecific conjunctivitis incidence and air pollutants data.…”