Short-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and psoriasis: A time-series analysis in Beijing, China

• Published in: Frontiers in public health Vol. 10; p. 1015197
• Main Authors: Wu, Junhui, Chen, Hongbo, Yang, Ruotong, Yu, Huan, Shang, Shaomei, Hu, Yonghua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 13.10.2022
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - adverse effects; Air Pollutants - analysis; air pollution; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Air Pollution - analysis; Beijing - epidemiology; Female; fine particulate matter; Humans; outpatient visits; Particulate Matter - adverse effects; Particulate Matter - analysis; Psoriasis; Public Health; time-series study; Beijing; time-series study; air pollution; outpatient visits; fine particulate matter; psoriasis
• ISSN: 2296-2565; 2296-2565
• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1015197

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM ) adversely affects human health and has been linked to a variety of skin disorders. However, little is known about the effects of PM on psoriasis. The Beijing Medical Claim Data for Employees database recorded 500,266 outpatient visits for psoriasis during 2010-2017. A generalized additive quasi-Poisson model was used to examine the relationship between daily PM concentrations and outpatient visits for psoriasis with stratification by sex, age, and season. Short-term exposure to PM was associated with outpatient visits for psoriasis-related health concerns. A same-day increase of 10 μg/m in PM concentrations was associated with a 0.29% (95% confidence interval: 0.26-0.32%) increase in daily outpatient visits for psoriasis. Female and older patients appeared to be more sensitive to the effects of PM ( < 0.05). Short-term elevations in PM concentrations may be associated with exacerbations in psoriasis. Further work is warranted to confirm the findings and elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.