Effect of Ambient Air Pollutants on the Medical Costs of Allergic Rhinitis in Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background: Ambient air pollutants are considered significant factors that influence allergic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ambient air pollution on the medical costs of allergic rhinitis (AR) through a time-series analysis.Methods: We used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Database from January 2016 to December 2019. The total cost for medical management and outpatient prescriptions for AR, estimated by the National Health Insurance Service for 25 districts, was summed as the total medical costs. The monthly concentrations of PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , CO, O 3 , and SO 2 were calculated, and time-series analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of ambient air pollutants on the medical cost of AR using the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model.Results: Time-series analysis revealed that the concentrations of PM 10 , NO 2 , and CO were significantly associated with an increased medical cost of AR when adjusting for monthly differences and seasonality (p = 0.048, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001 respectively). The increase in medical costs of AR was 6.22% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0%-12.37%), 11.27% (95% CI: 6.03%-16.50%), and 11.05% (95% CI: 7.09%-15.01%) per one standard deviation increase in PM1 0 , NO2, and CO respectively.Conclusions: The monthly concentrations of PM1 0 , NO 2 , and CO were significantly associated with the increased medical costs of AR when adjusting for monthly differences and seasonality. This analysis provides a better understanding of the health and economic effects of ambient air pollutants on AR.

Integrated Identification and Genetic Diversity of Potentially Invasive Clearwing Moths (Lepidoptera: Cossoidea: Sesiidae) in Korea

“…The expansion of domestic fruit tree cultivation, driven by global warming, has led to the clearwing moth pest expanding its distribution area and causing extensive damage to adjacent forestry or street trees in urban areas. One example is Synanthedon bicignulata, a pest of peach, plum, apricot, and other fruit trees, which has recently expanded its distribution beyond agricultural areas to urban centers as a pest that causes severe damage to yoshino cherry (Prunus yedoensis Matsumura), an urban street tree [17].…”

Evaluating the Longitudinal Connectivity of Dorim Stream in Seoul based on Artificial Constructure and Fish Data

“…국내 연구로는 팔미천에서 어류 유사도를 기반으로 종적 연속성을 평가하였 고 (Lee et al, 2010), 원주천에서 피라미와 잡고기로 나누어 ICE 기법으로 종적 연속성을 평가하였다 (Choi, 2020). 또한 종적 연속성 평가모델 적용성이 분석된 바 있다 (Kim et al, 2020) 어류의 동정 및 섭식특성 등은 어류 도감 (Chae et al, 2019;Han et al, 2015;Kim et al, 2005;Kim and Park, 2002) (Baudoin et al, 2015;Fahlbusch, 1994;Lauritzen et al, 2005;Lauritzen et al, 2010;NIER, 2023;Powers and Orsborn, 1985;Veronese, 1937;Videler, 1993) (Table 1).…”