Spatial analysis between particulate matter and emergency room visits for conjunctivitis and keratitis

BACKGROUND: The concentration of particulate matter in the air varies depending on the region because it is lightweight and generated from a variety of sources. To assess the relationship between particulate matter and eye disease, this study analyzes the concentration data obtained from spatial analysis of particulate matter and emergency visit data. METHODS: The study included 769 residents of Daegu, Korea who had visited an emergency room for the problem of conjunctivitis or keratitis. Concentrations of PM10 and other air pollutants were obtained from the Korean Ministry of the Environment. PM10 concentrations and the number of patients from each of 143 administrative dongs (sub-municipal level administrative units) of the city of Daegu were obtained using spatial analysis. The patient distribution and PM10 concentration were mapped for comparison, and their relationship was examined using scatter plot, regression analysis, and the independent sample t-test. RESULTS: The number of patients with conjunctivitis and keratitis was significantly higher in the regions of the top 20% areas than the bottom 20% areas in terms of PM10 concentration. The distribution of PM10 concentration and number of patients was visually similar on the map. The concentration of PM10 and the number of patients showed a dose–response relationship. When the concentrations of other air polluta9nts were controlled for, the numbers of conjunctivitis and keratitis patients were 0.04 per 1000 ER patients and 0.10 per 1000 ER patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: As PM10 is associated with the prevalence of conjunctivitis and keratitis, measures to reduce particulate matter through environmental methods are needed. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s40557-018-0252-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Factors related to heart rate variability among firefighters

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with heart rate variability in firefighters working in a metropolitan city in South Korea. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires including Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) as well as surveys collecting socio-demographic characteristics and work-related factors were given to 962 firefighters. After exclusion for missing data, 645 firefighters were included, and analysis of covaiance adjusted for the general risk factors and job characteristics were used to assess the relationship between heart rate variability and associated factors. RESULTS: SDNN and RMSSD and were decreased in the area of occupational climate of the group with high job stress (p = 0.027, p = 0.036). HF(ln) was decreased in the area of organizational system and occupational climate of the group with high stress that statistically significant level (p = 0.034, p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational climate and organizational system are associated with reduction of heart rate variability. Preventive medical care plans for cardiovascular disease of firefighters through the analysis and evaluation of job stress factors are needed.

Effect of Follow-up Management on Cerebro-cardiovascular Disease Risk for Small Sized Company Workers / 계명의대학술지

To explore the effect of follow-up management after health examination for the cerebro-cardiovascular disease risk, a survey applied with the KOSHA cerebro-cardiovascular disease risk assessment tool was conducted with 500 workers in small scale enterprise less than 50 employees. They were provided two types of health services; post-examination management and health consultation, and finally compared the cerebro-cardiovascular disease risk changes between 2014 and 2015. In normal group in 2014, only 18.7% of workers who received the follow-up management had elevated risks, while 23.8% of workers who received the health consultation had elevated risks in 2015. In risk group in 2014, only 2.8% of workers who got follow-up management had elevated risks, while 7.7% of workers who got only health consultation had elevated risks in 2015. After adjustment for gender, age, exercise, body mass index, nationality and type of industry, negative correlation was found in association to the follow-up management (odds ratio = 0.87). This study shows that workers with cerebro-cardiovascular disease or who are at high cerebro-cardiovascular risk in small scale enterprise should receive early detection and management using counselling and regular follow-up after periodic health examination. Also the health counselling including preventive education for cerebro-cardiovascular disease is needed for all workers to improve their self-management for health.