Effects of air pollution and seasonality on the respiratory symptoms and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of outpatients with chronic respiratory disease in Ulaanbaatar: pilot study for the comparison of the cold and warm seasons

Abstract

BackgroundThis study was performed to investigate the effects of air pollution and seasonality on the respiratory symptoms and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of outpatients with respiratory diseases in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Subjects were outpatients who visited the hospital with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) or bronchial asthma (BA) in March. Their symptoms and HR-QoL were evaluated using a questionnaire including the SF-36v2 and COOP/WONCA charts in March, May and July. PM2.5 was sampled in March and July in Ulaanbaatar, and its composition was analyzed.ResultsPatients with COPD or BA showed higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms than the control subjects in each month. For HR-QoL, all subscales worsened in the patients than in the control group in March. Although the HR-QoL of the COPD and control groups were not significantly changed through the surveys, some subscales of the BA group showed remarkable improvement in July as compared to March. Daily means of PM2.5 in March were significantly higher than those in July. Carbon and ionic component concentrations, except for magnesium and calcium ions, were significantly higher in March than July. Mass concentrations of some metallic components were also significantly higher in March than July. The percentage of nitrate ion in PM2.5 was significantly higher in March when compared to that in July.ConclusionsThese results suggested that the symptoms in the COPD and BA groups were caused by the disease, and the association with air pollution or seasonality remained unclear. However, the effects of air pollution and seasonality on the HR-QoL were significant in the patients with BA.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40064-016-3481-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Current Curative Expenditure of Respiratory Diseases and Its Influencing Factors，A Research Based on“System of Health Account 2011”

“…Hunan is located in the central part of China. In autumn and winter, the temperature drops, precipitation decreases, and the air flow stablizes [27], which is not conducive to the dissipation of pollutants. In addition, Hunan is on the east, west and south of a basin land formation.…”

Perfil de idosos admitidos em serviço de fisioterapia frente à sazonalidade

“…Nesse contexto, o impacto da baixa temperatura merece atenção para que os serviços de saúde estejam preparados para atender uma demanda maior de indivíduos no inverno, especialmente em regiões de alterações climáticas acentuadas. Além disso, alguns autores mostram que as baixas temperaturas agravam as doenças e dores crônicas [5][6][7]13], reduzem a qualidade de vida [11] e diminuem o nível de atividade física e a adesão de idosos a programas de tratamentos [20,21]. Com isso, destaca-se a importância de programas de promoção, prevenção e controle de doenças crônicas, bem como inclusão de fatores motivacionais nessa época do ano.…”

“…As doenças endêmicas dos idosos podem ser relacionadas com fatores geográficos. Essa população é mais vulnerável às mudanças climáticas, geologia e relevo, bem como à diminuição da qualidade do ar e às perturbações por eventos climáticos extremos [8][9][10][11]. Temperaturas extremamente altas provocam a incidência de choques térmicos, exaustão e câimbras pelo calor.…”

“…Temperaturas extremamente altas provocam a incidência de choques térmicos, exaustão e câimbras pelo calor. Por outro lado, temperaturas extremamente baixas podem causar hipotermia e agravar males como artrite, sinusite, doenças respiratórias e enrijecimento das articulações [5][6][7][10][11][12].…”

Associations between perceived environmental pollution and health-related quality of life in a Chinese adult population

“…Another study among Mongolian people reported that air pollution in the cold season contributed by solid fuel combustion might lower HRQoL in adults aged 40-79 years with ventilatory impairment in the winter months [10]. Furthermore, the effects of air pollution and seasonality on the HRQoL were significant in the patients with bronchial asthma in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia [11]. Another investigation within the Chicago Health and Aging Project indicated that long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution might accelerate agingrelated declines in health [12].…”