Dış ortam Hava Kirliliği ile Göğüs Hastalıkları Acil Başvuruları İlişkisinin Değerlendirilmesi: Retrospektif Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Objective: Air pollution reaches the systemic circulation in and through the lungs, causing a decrease in respiratory functions, respiratory tract infections, the development of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and an increase in exacerbations.There is no study in medical literature showing the relationship between air pollution and lower respiratory tract infection emergency service admissions in Ankara. This study aims to show the relationship between air pollution and the rate of Emergency Department Visits (EDVs) of patients with chest dieseases. Material and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in AnkaraAtatürk Training and Research Hospital using medical records belonging to 302 EDVs for respiratory diseases. The data on ambient SO 2 and PM 10 levels corresponding to the EDV dates were retrieved from the National Air Quality Monitoring Network website. The demographics and clinical data gathered from electronic files of patients were compared with the levels of air pollutants.Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 20.0In the study, demographic characteristics, symptoms and diagnosis of the admission to the emergency department, arterial blood gase (pH, PaCO 2 , PaO 2 , SO 2 ), complete blood count, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels of the patients were examined.Results: Among chest diseases EDVs, 11.6% of the patients had asthma, 33.1% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 13.9% pulmonary thrombo embolism, 44.7% pneumonia, 11.2% bronchiectasis, % 4 had interstitial lung disease, 2% had lung cancer and 44.7% had obstructive pulmonary disease. 87.7% of the patients presented with cough, 40.4% with sputum, 64.9% with shortness of breath, 37.4% with chest pain, 6% with hemoptysis and 27.8% with other symptoms.It was determined that SO 2 and PM 10 levels, which are among the air pollutant parameters, were at the highest values in December at the time of admissions to the emergency service. Air pollution parameters were found to be significantly higher in patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia and obstructive pulmonary diseases compared to those without the disease (p<0,05). Air pollution parameters were found to be significantly higher in patients with cough, sputum, shortness of breath, and chest pain compared to those without these symptoms. Conclusion:As the level of air pollution increases, the number of applications to the emergency room due to chest diseases increases and this is especially correlated with the increase in SO 2 ,