The Impact of Weather and Air Conditions on Pediatric Emergency Department Visits in 20192022: A Single-Center Study

OpenAlex İngilizce

Objective: This study aimed to explore the impact of environmental factors, specifically adverse weather conditions, on the rate of pediatric emergency department visits. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed at a tertiary care hospital specializing in pediatric and emergency medicine. Data on environmental factors, including particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen oxide (NOX) levels, temperature, wind speed, and precipitation, were collected from official Turkish sources and correlated with pediatric emergency department admissions over a year. Admissions were categorized seasonally, and analyzed variables included patient demographics, visit details, diagnosis, and outcomes, utilizing ICD-10 codes for a broad range of conditions. Results: A retrospective study from 2019 to 2022 investigated 126,364 pediatric patients aged < 15 years. Seasonal variation was noted, with the highest number of admissions in the fall of 2022. Admissions significantly decreased during periods of water and air pollution, with the most substantial decline seen during the pandemic year of 2021. During the post-pandemic period, there was a sharp increase in the number of visits. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) constitute 47% of all cases and are the leading cause of emergency department visits. The majority of patients (99%) walked, whereas only 1% arrived by ambulance. (0.2%) required referral to higher-level care, and 3% of emergency visits resulted in hospital admissions, of which 5% required intensive care. The frequency of visits was correlated with environmental factors, with fewer visits occurring during adverse weather conditions (P<.001). URTIs remained the predominant diagnosis, even during extreme weather or pollution events, suggesting that such environmental factors did not diminish the urgency of these conditions. Conclusion: This study found that environmental factors influence child emergency room visits, particularly during summer when children engage in more outdoor activities due to warmer weather. Based on the results obtained, health systems are able to allocate resources and formulate response strategies that enhance the provision of care for children, thereby increasing the resilience of the emergency health services infrastructure.