CONCENTRATION OF SOOT AND GENERAL PRACTITIONER VISITS FOR RESPIRATORY DISEASE

Abstract

objectives: To examine the association between the air concentration of soot and the daily number of visits due to respiratory diseases in a primary health facility in northern Kosovska Mitrovica. methods: A time series study was performed in 2009– 2013 using data on daily patient visits in the institution of primary health care at Kosovska Mitrovica. In the same period emission of soot was monitored. The32 ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH concentration of soot was determined by re×ectometric method. Associations between soot concentration and daily number of Úrst visits to genral practitioner (GP) due to respiratory diseases were analyzed with nonlinear models with distributed delay DLNM by Gasparini. results: A signiÚcant positive association was observed between the number of Úrst visits to GP due to respiratory diseases and the concentrations of soot. The delayed eØect of soot on the increase of the number of Úrst visits to GP was highest from the sixth to the eleventh day and was 0.7% per 10µg/m3 increase of soot concentration (RR = 1.00655-1.00709), but only for patients up to 18 years. There was no signiÚcant correlation between the concentration of soot, and number of GP visits among patients aged 19 to 64 years, and those older than 65 years. conclusions: This study shows a signiÚcant positive association between soot concentrations and GP visits due to respiratory problems in young people up to 18 years.