Objective To evaluate the effects of air pollution on outpatient visits in a district of Shanghai and to provide a scientific basis for making effective intervention measures and protecting public health.
Methods Meteorological and environmental data of Shanghai and the total, respiratory system disease, and circulatory system disease outpatients of a district hospital in Shanghai from 2013-2015 were collected for a time-series analysis.
Results The increased total outpatients were 0.26%, 0.19%, 2.70%, and 3.00% respectively for an increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM2.5, PM10, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). For respiratory system disease outpatients, the increase induced by PM2.5 with the same increment was 0.73%, 0.55% by PM10, 4.00% by SO2, and 2.30% by NO2. For circulatory system disease outpatients, the increase induced by PM2.5 with the same increment was 0.17%, 0.23% by PM10, 2.80% by SO2, and 2.50% by NO2.
Conclusion Elevated concentrations of air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2 would associate with the increase of hospital outpatients in the district.
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