Citation

Choi M, Son M, Bae S, Lee W, Kim KN, Hyun JK. Yonsei Med. J. 2024; 65(5): 302-313.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Yonsei University)

DOI

10.3349/ymj.2023.0135

PMID

38653569

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the interrupting effect of social distancing (SD) on emergency department (ED) patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, asthma, and suicide attempts by PM(2.5) exposure in eight Korean megacities from 2017 to 2020.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study used National Emergency Department Information System and AirKorea data. A total of 469014 patients visited EDs from 2017 to 2020. Interrupted time series analysis was employed to examine changes in the level and slope of the time series, relative risk, and confidence intervals (CIs) by PM(2.5) exposure. The SD level was added to the sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS: The interrupted time series analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the ratio of relative risk (RRR) of IHD patients in Seoul (RRR=1.004, 95% CI: 1.001, 1.006) and Busan (RRR=1.007, 95% CI: 1.002, 1.012) post-SD. Regarding stroke, only patients in Seoul exhibited a significant decrease post-SD (RRR=0.995, 95% CI: 0.991, 0.999). No significant changes were observed for asthma in any of the cities. In the case of suicide attempts, Ulsan demonstrated substantial pre-SD (RR=0.827, 95% CI: 0.732, 0.935) and post-SD (RRR=1.200, 95% CI: 1.057, 1.362) differences.

CONCLUSION: While the interrupting effect of SD was not as pronounced as anticipated, this study did validate the effectiveness of SD in modifying health behaviors and minimizing avoidable visits to EDs in addition to curtailing the occurrence of infectious diseases.

Language: en

Keywords

*Asthma/prevention & control/epidemiology; *Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data; *Myocardial Ischemia/prevention & control/epidemiology; *Particulate Matter/adverse effects; *Stroke/prevention & control/epidemiology; *Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data; emergency medicine; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects; Female; Humans; Interrupted time series analysis; Interrupted Time Series Analysis; Male; Middle Aged; particulate matter 2.5; Physical Distancing; Republic of Korea/epidemiology; social distancing