In this retrospective cross sectional survey, by evaluating the records of Ahvaz aerology stations and air pollution committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University, the DATA about 4 major air
AbstractBackground: To evaluate relation between air pollution and rate and duration of hospital admission due to hepatic encephalopathy as a major complication of liver cirrhosis.
Methods:In this retrospective study, during a 10 months period, the number and average duration of hospitalization of patients admitted in GI ward of a referral center due to hepatic encephalopathy were recorded in an industrial capital city. Concomitantly the level of 4 major air pollutants including SO 2 , CO, NO 2 and O 3 measured and the correlation between severity of hepatic encephalopathy and air pollution determined by Pearson correlation coefficient.Results: Average number of admission was 5 to 6 patients per month (1-10). The average duration of hospitalization was 7.6 days (3-19). After comparison of average concentration of 4 major air pollutants with rate of hepatic encephalopathy, there was a relation, between O3 concentration and duration of admissions (P=0.048, correlation coefficient 0.636) and also a non-significant relation between O3 concentration and number of admissions (P=0.78, correlation coefficient 0.58). DATA analysis did not reveal any significant relation between SO 2 , NO 2 and CO and the rate and duration of admission due to hepatic encephalopathy (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:It seems that O 3 as one of the major air pollutants can aggravates course of hepatic encephalopathy. This issue should further be clarified in future studies.