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Population study on chronic and acute conjunctivitis associated with ambient environment in urban and rural areas

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 22, pages 533–538 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether daily clinic visits for conjunctivitis are associated with the ambient environment in urban and rural areas of Taiwan. The incidences of acute and chronic conjunctivitis (International Classification of Disease 9 Clinical Modification 372.0 and 372.1) in two urban cities and two rural counties and their relative risks (RRs) are associated with air pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter <10 μm in aerodynamic diameter) and/or weather statuses were assessed from the insurance reimbursement claims of a representative 1 million people from 2000 to 2007. The patients resided in rural counties were approximately eight time more likely to have acute complains and >1.3 time more likely to have chronic complaints than the patients lived in the capital, Taipei. Per 10 °C increment of the daily average temperature increased the risk of acute conjunctivitis and chronic conjunctivitis with RRs of 1.06 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.09) and 1.05 (95% CI: 1.04–1.07), respectively. A 10-p.p.b. increase in NOx concentration also increased the risk of acute conjunctivitis (RR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.02–1.04) and chronic conjunctivitis (RR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.05–1.06). Residents in rural counties, females, the elderly, and children have higher risk of conjunctivitis. Ambient temperature and NOx concentration can cause greater significant risks on the diseases.

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Article 08 April 2021

Antoni Torres, Catia Cilloniz, … Tom van der Poll

Abbreviations

95% CI:

95% confidence interval

NOx:

nitrogen oxides

PM10:

particulate matter <10 μm in aerodynamic diameter

RR:

relative risk

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by the Taiwan National Science Council (NSC 99-2221-E-033-052 and NSC 99-2621-M-039-001), the China Medical University Hospital (1MS1 and DMR-101-076), and the Taiwan Department of Health (DOH100-TD-B-111-004, DOH100-TD-C-111-005). We thank the NHRI, Environmental Protection Administration and CWB for providing the research data. The interpretation and the conclusions contained herein do not represent the views of these agencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Chun-Chi Chiang & Yi-Yu Tsai

  2. School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Chun-Chi Chiang & Yi-Yu Tsai

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chiang-Chang Liao

  4. China Medical Hospital Management Office for Health Data, Taichung, Taiwan

    Chiang-Chang Liao & Pei-Chun Chen

  5. Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Pei-Chun Chen

  6. Department of Bioenvironmental Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University College of Engineering, Chung Li, Taiwan

    Yu-Chun Wang

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  1. Chun-Chi Chiang
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Correspondence to Yu-Chun Wang.

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Chiang, CC., Liao, CC., Chen, PC. et al. Population study on chronic and acute conjunctivitis associated with ambient environment in urban and rural areas. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 22, 533–538 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2012.37

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