Objective:

to study the relationship between air pollution levels and total pediatric hospital admissions and due to respiratory pathologies in particular.

Patients and methods:

ecological study in which the dependent variable analyzed was total pediatric admissions and those due to respiratory pathologies, specifically pneumonias, asthma attacks, bron­chiolitis, in a hospital in the centre of Madrid and for 6 years (2012-2017). As independent variables, the average values of environmental pollutants registered in the city of Madrid were studied. Correla­tion coefficients and multiple linear regression were calculated. The average hospital admissions was compared when the values of nitrogen dioxide (NO) were higher and lower than 40 µg/m.

Results:

during the period of the study, there were a total of 10 512 admissions in general pediatrics, out of which 5328 (50.68%) caused by respiratory processes. A correlation was found between the levels of NO, CO, benzene and the total and respiratory-related hospital admissions in all cases with a value ofp<0.0001. In the multiple linear regression, the total admissions were related to NO levels positively and negatively with the temperature. As for the admissions due to respiratory pathology, they increase with the levels of NO and benzene and decrease with temperature. It was calculated that if the levels of NO had not exceeded 40µg/m in any month, 8.37% (95 CI: 7.77-8.98) of the total admissions and 6.73% (95 CI: 6-7.52) of respiratory-related admissions could have been avoided.

Conclusions:

a relation was found between the total pediatric hospital admissions and those due to respiratory pathologies and the levels of air pollutants, especially NO. The improvement of air quality could prevent a significant percentage of pediatric admissions. It should be a priority for pediatricians to encourage the improvement of air quality.

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