Studies from Seoul National University Have Provided New Information about Asthma (The Effects of Short-term and Very Short-term Particulate Matter Exposure On Asthma-related Hospital Visits: National Health Insurance Data)

2019 OCT 10 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Business Daily -- Research findings on Lung Diseases and Conditions - Asthma are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting originating in Seoul, South Korea, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short-term and very short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) exceeding the daily average environmental standards for Korea (<= 100 mu g/m(3) for PM10 and <= 50 mu g/m(3) for PM2.5) on on asthma-related hospital visits. This was a population-based, case-crossover study using National Health Insurance and air pollution data between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016.”

Financial supporters for this research include Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (KAAACI), Korea Asthma Allergy Foundation (KAF).

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Seoul National University, “The event day was defined as a day when PM exceeded the daily average environmental standard (short-term exposure) or daily average environmental standard for 2 hours (very short-term exposure). The control day was defined as the same day of the week at 1 week prior to the event day. Compared with control days, asthma-related hospital visits on the 24-h revent days and 2-hr event days increased by 4.10% and 3.45% for PM10 and 5.66% and 3.74% for PM2.5, respectively. Asthma-related hospital visits increased from the 24-hr event day for PM10 to 4 days after the event day, peaking on the third day after the event day (1.26, 95% confidence interval, 1.22-1.30). Hospitalizations also increased on the third day after the event. While there was a difference in magnitude, PM2.5 exposure showed similar trends to PM10 exposure. We found a significant association between short-term and very short-term PM exposure exceeding the current daily average environmental standards of Korea and asthma-related hospital visits.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “These results are expected to aid in establishing appropriate environmental standards and relevant policies for PM.”

For more information on this research see: The Effects of Short-term and Very Short-term Particulate Matter Exposure On Asthma-related Hospital Visits: National Health Insurance Data. Yonsei Medical Journal, 2019;60(10):952-959. Yonsei Medical Journal can be contacted at: Yonsei Univ Coll Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting S.H. Cho, Seoul National University, Dept. of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, 103 Daehak Ro, Seoul 03080, South Korea. Additional authors for this research include D.J. Song, S.H. Choi, W.J. Song, K.H. Park, Y.K. Jee and D.H. Lim.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2019.60.10.952. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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