ObjectiveTo explore the correlation of respiratory diseases in respiratory clinic with air quality and temperature in winter. MethodsThe data of patients in the respiratory clinic in Anyang District Hospital were collected from November 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013. The air quality and weather condition were investigated in the local environmental protection department and meteorological department simultaneously. The number of outpatients,prevalence of main symptoms and main respiratory diseases as preliminary diagnoses were recorded. Their relations with air pollution index (API) and air temperature were analyzed. ResultsPearson correlation coefficient of daily API with the outpatients number of the day,the next 1 day and the next 3 days were 0.725, 0.331 and 0.257, respectively (P<0.01), which indicating a positive correlation. The average number of outpatients per day increased by 21.4%, 42.6% and 50.4%, respectively with increased API scale, so did the prevalence of main symptoms and that of main respiratory diseases as preliminary diagnoses. Pearson correlation coefficient of API with cough with sputum, and asthma were 0.287 and 0.277, respectively (P<0.01), which indicating a positive correlation. Pearson correlation coefficient of API with upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and pneumonia were 0.184, 0.251, 0.301 and 0.227, respectively (P<0.05), which indicating a positive correlation. The average number of outpatients was stable when temperature ranged from -3℃to 15℃,increased by 34.5% when temperature ranged from -4℃to -3℃,and increased by 9.3% more when temperature ranged from -5℃to -4℃. Cough was more sensitive to air temperature, and the prevalence of cough increased by 35.7% when temperature ranged from -4℃to -3℃,and increased by 14.0% more when temperature ranged from -5℃to -4℃. Pearson correlation coefficient of air temperature with sinusitis, bronchial asthma, and sputum were -0.194, -0.383 and -0.191, respectively (P<0.05), which indicating a negative correlation. ConclusionsIn winter,the number of outpatients increases with the increase of API. Respiratory diseases and symptoms are closely related to air quality and temperature.
ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of respiratory diseases and lung function of school-age children in Chongqing and to compare them with that of children in 25 years ago and to explore the possible causes of this change.MethodsAccording to the air quality data of Chongqing from 1998 to 2016, the annual variation of air quality days and pollutant concentrations were plotted. 2 126 school-age children in two districts of Chongqing were selected by random cluster sampling for questionnaires. 771 children were randomly selected from the children who completed the questionnaire for pulmonary function tests. The results were compared with that of 25 years ago.ResultsFrom 1998 to 2016, the number of days with good air quality in Chongqing increased annually, and the concentration of SO2 decreased significantly. The main air pollution composition changed from SO2 to PM10 and PM2.5. The prevalence of bronchitis (P<0.05) was higher than that of 25 years ago. After adjusting for confounding factors by multivariate logistic regression, the OR value of bronchitis in children was 1.667 (P<0.05) compared with 25 years ago. After adjusting for age, sex, height and weight by multiple linear regression, the results showed that the subjects' lung function indexes (FVC, FEV1, PEF and FEV3) were lower than that of 25 years ago. In this survey, there were differences in lung function indexes between children with different frequency of eating fruits and dairy products (P<0.05), and those with high frequency consumption were higher than low frequency. In terms of exercise time, subjects exercising ≥1 hour/day had greater FVC and FEV3 values than those exercising <1 hour/day (P<0.05).ConclusionsThe overall air quality in Chongqing has improved from 1998 to 2016; The respiratory health of children has decreased when compared with that of 25 years ago. Changes in the composition of air pollutants may endanger children's respiratory health, and fruit and dairy foods and exercise may be protective factors for children's respiratory health.