Short-term effect of PM_2.5 on daily hospital admissions in Madrid (2003–2005)

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to analyse the effect of particulate matter PM_2.5, a recent air quality guideline value for the protection of health, on hospital admissions in Madrid, Spain. This dependent variable was used as a measure against the daily number of emergency hospital admissions from 2003–2005. The causes analysed were: all causes, respiratory and circulatory. The independent variables were daily records of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, NO_x, SO₂ and O₃. Seasonalities, trend, flu epidemics, noise and pollen were used as control variables. Poisson Regression Models were performed to calculate the Relative Risk (RR) and the Attributable Risk (AR). The function relationship with hospital admissions was linear and without threshold. The RR for an increase of 25 μg/m³ in PM_2.5 concentrations was 1.07 IC 95% (1.05 1.09) for all causes; for circulatory was 1.08 IC 95%: (1.03 1.13) and for respiratory was 1.07 IC 95% (1.02 1.11). PM_2.5 concentrations were the only primary pollutant that showed a statistical association with hospital admissions in Madrid.

Keywords:

• air pollution
• hospital admissions
• PM_2.5
• time series

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Carlos III Institute of Health (SEPY Project 1453/07).