The Prognostic Effect of Air Pollution in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Published in: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness Vol. 18; p. e126
• Main Authors: Sabak, Mustafa, Gulen, Muge, Satar, Salim, Yildirim, Cuma, Yildiz, Ahmet Faruk, Zengin, Suat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 18-09-2024
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Air Pollution - analysis; Air Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - complications; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - epidemiology; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - etiology; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Turkey - epidemiology; Turkey; carbon monoxide poisoning; climate factors; weather parameters; Air Quality Index
• ISSN: 1938-744X
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2024.135

Weather conditions such as low air temperatures, low barometric pressure, and low wind speed have been linked to more cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. However, limited literature exists regarding the impact of air pollution. This study aims to investigate the relationship between outdoor air pollution and CO poisoning in 2 distinct cities in Turkey.
A prospective study was conducted at 2 tertiary hospitals, recording demographic data, presenting complaints, vital signs, blood gas and laboratory parameters, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels, meteorological parameters, and pollutant parameters. Complications and outcomes were also documented.
The study included 83 patients (Group 1 = 44, Group 2 = 39). The air quality index (AQI) in Group 2 (61.7 ± 27.7) (moderate AQI) was statistically significantly higher (dirtier AQI) than that in Group 1 (47.3 ± 26.4) (good AQI) (
= 0.018). The AQI was identified as an independent predictor for forecasting the need for hospitalization (OR = 1.192, 95% CI: 1.036 - 1.372,
= 0.014) and predicting the risk of developing cardiac complications (OR: 1.060, 95% CI: 1.017 - 1.104,
= 0.005).
The AQI, derived from the calculation of 6 primary air pollutants, can effectively predict the likelihood of hospitalization and cardiac involvement in patients presenting to the emergency department with CO poisoning.