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Particulate Air Pollution and Primary Care Visits in Kosovo: A Time-Series Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Zana Shabani Isenaj

    (Medical Faculty, University of Hasan Prishtina, Rr. George Bush Nr. 31, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo
    National Institute of Public Health, St. Mother Teresa pn, Rrethi i Spitalit, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo)

  • Merita Berisha

    (Medical Faculty, University of Hasan Prishtina, Rr. George Bush Nr. 31, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo
    National Institute of Public Health, St. Mother Teresa pn, Rrethi i Spitalit, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo)

  • Antigona Ukëhaxhaj

    (National Institute of Public Health, St. Mother Teresa pn, Rrethi i Spitalit, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo
    Master Programme, Medical Faculty, University Fehmi Agani, Rr. Ismail Qemali n.n., 50000 Gjakova, Kosovo)

  • Hanns Moshammer

    (Department of Environmental Health, ZPH, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
    Department of Hygiene, Medical University of Karakalpakstan, Nukus 230100, Uzbekistan)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of particulate air pollution (PM2.5) on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in Pristina, Kosovo, in a time-series analysis using daily primary healthcare visits to primary care institutions from 2019 to 2022. For the observation period, 6440 cardiovascular and 15,141 respiratory visits were reported, whereas the daily mean concentrations of PM2.5 ranged between 2.41 and 120.3 µg/m 3 . Single-lag models indicated a bi-phasic lag structure with increasing effect estimates some days after the air pollution event. In the distributed lag model with seven lags, the effect estimates for the cardiovascular cases indicated the adverse effect of air pollution. The cumulative effect estimate (summed over lag 0 to 6) for an increase of 10 µg/m 3 of PM2.5 was a relative risk of 1.010 (95% confidence interval: 1.001–1.019). For respiratory cases, a different lag model (lag 4 through 10) was additionally examined. In this model, significant increases in visits were observed on lags 7 and 8. Overall, no relevant increase in visits occurred during the seven days considered. Visits to general practitioners will often not occur immediately at disease onset because patients will wait, hoping that their health status improves spontaneously. Therefore, we expected some latency in the effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Zana Shabani Isenaj & Merita Berisha & Antigona Ukëhaxhaj & Hanns Moshammer, 2022. "Particulate Air Pollution and Primary Care Visits in Kosovo: A Time-Series Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16591-:d:999313
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zana Shabani Isenaj & Merita Berisha & Dragan Gjorgjev & Mirjana Dimovska & Hanns Moshammer & Antigona Ukëhaxhaj, 2022. "Air Pollution in Kosovo: Short Term Effects on Hospital Visits of Children Due to Respiratory Health Diagnoses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Manfred Neuberger & Hanns Moshammer & Daniel Rabczenko, 2013. "Acute and Subacute Effects of Urban Air Pollution on Cardiopulmonary Emergencies and Mortality: Time Series Studies in Austrian Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-24, October.
    3. Francesca Dominici & Aidan M.C. Dermott & Trevor J. Hastie, 2004. "Improved Semiparametric Time Series Models of Air Pollution and Mortality," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 99, pages 938-948, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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