AUTHOR=Wu Junhui , Chen Hongbo , Yang Ruotong , Yu Huan , Shang Shaomei , Hu Yonghua 

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

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1015197

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.1015197

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Ambient fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) adversely affects human health and has been linked to a variety of skin disorders. However, little is known about the effects of PM<sub>2.5</sub> on psoriasis.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>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<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations and outpatient visits for psoriasis with stratification by sex, age, and season.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Short-term exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> was associated with outpatient visits for psoriasis-related health concerns. A same-day increase of 10 μg/m<sup>3</sup> in PM<sub>2.5</sub> 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<sub>2.5</sub> (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Short-term elevations in PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations may be associated with exacerbations in psoriasis. Further work is warranted to confirm the findings and elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.</p></sec>