Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Children: A Prevalence Study in Koper Municipality

作者：Erzen Ivan; Kukec Andreja; Zaletel Kragelj Lijana^*

来源：Healthmed, 2010, 4(4): 945-954.

• asthma
• chronic bronchitis
• prevalence
• schoolchildren
• air pollution
• Slovenia

Background: Slovenia is increasingly facing population health problems due to environmental pollution. Koper Municipality (KM), located in the south-west coastal region of Slovenia is considered as one of more polluted parts of the country. Especially residents of its northern parts have been for several years concerned about the high rate of respiratory diseases. They warned of episodes of heavy environment pollution.
Methods: In early winter 2002/2003, 1059 schoolchildren (age 6-11 years) from KM and 718 from the control Smarje-pri-Jelsah Administrative Unit (SJAU) were observed in the prevalence study. Two areas of KM: the higher pollution area. and the lower pollution area were compared to the control SJAU area. Logistic regression was used as a method of statistical analysis.
Results: The global prevalence of asthma/chronic bronchitis was: 5.8% in the control SJAU area, 7.4% in the lower pollution area, and 9.8% in the higher pollution area (p=0.038). After adjustment for the effects of confounders, significantly highest odds for asthma/chronic bronchitis were, in comparison to the control SJAU area, registered in the higher pollution area (OR=1.72; p=0.018) but not in the lower pollution area (OR=1.19; p=0.455) of KM.
Conclusion: The study confirmed significantly higher prevalence of respiratory diseases in children residing the higher pollution area of KM. The situation regarding air pollution in this area is very complex and not limited only to Slovenia. It is important to find the solutions how to ensure effective and sustainable cross-country cooperation to reduce the environmental problems harmful for people's health.

• 出版日期2010