Background:
Air pollution is one of the most important factors threatening the health of citizens. It increases the prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as emergency admissions to hospitals in the polluted metropolitan cities. The present study was conducted using Air Quality (AirQ) model and aimed to investigate the effects of air pollution on the number of emergency cardiovascular and respiratory patients admissions in Tehran hospitals during ۲۰۰۵-۲۰۱۴.
Materials and Methods: This was cross-sectional study. First, the needed hourly information was received from the Bureau of Air Quality Control, and the Environmental Protection Agency of Tehran City. Then, the information was validated according to WHO criteria, and the statistical indicators and the stages required to quantify the harmful effects of air pollutants were calculated by using appropriate application.
Results: According to the results, the number of cases admitted to the emergency ward of hospitals due to heart diseases (by exposure to particulate matter) during the years ۲۰۰۵ to ۲۰۱۴ were respectively ۱۷۹۷, ۱۲۸۰, ۱۷۶۶, ۱۹۸۰, ۲۱۳۲, ۲۷۰۳, ۲۳۸۹, ۲۵۹۴, ۲۱۵۸, and ۲۲۹۱ cases, totaling ۲۰۹۹۰ persons, and for respiratory diseases (due to exposure to particulate matter) during the same years were respectively ۴۶۴۳, ۳۳۰۱, ۴۶۵۰, ۵۱۱۷, ۵۵۱۱, ۶۹۹۹, ۶۱۸۰, ۶۴۵۲, ۵۵۷۷, and ۵۹۲۲ cases, totaling ۵۴۳۵۲ people. Also, the number of cases admitted to the emergency wards of hospitals due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by exposure to emissions of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone were respectively, ۱۸۰۶, ۲۴۵۴, and ۲۹۴۱ cases.
Conclusion:
Air pollution in Tehran increases the load of emergency visits to hospitals and increases the risk of respiratory and heart diseases. Therefore, measures to reduce and control air pollution and to prepare, equip, and mobilize hospitals, particularly emergency wards, are among important priorities that should be pursued seriously by the authorities.