Environmental Exposure and Childhood Atopic Dermatitis in Shanghai: A Season-Stratified Time-Series Analysis

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease which sometimes predisposes to allergies. Environmental factors (low humidity, irritants, etc.) are prominent causative triggers of AD. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> This study aims to explore the effects of both meteorological factors and air pollutants on childhood AD, and the modification effects by season in Shanghai, China. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression model, combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to examine the nonlinear and lagged effects of environmental factors on childhood AD from 2009 to 2017 in Shanghai. We also performed a season-stratified analysis to determine the modification effects of environmental exposure by season on childhood AD. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There were 1,043,240 outpatient visits for childhood AD in total, at 3 major pediatric hospitals. Low temperature and relative humidity (RH), and high daily temperature difference (DTD) and air pollutants (i.e., NO₂) increased the relative risks (RRs) of outpatient visits for childhood AD in the whole year. In the cold season, an increased risk of outpatient visits for childhood AD was associated with low RH (RR 2.26, 95% CI 1.69–3.02) and high NO₂ (1.11, 95% CI 1.06–1.17). In the warm season, outpatient visits for childhood AD were associated with low temperature (3.49, 95% CI 3.22–3.77), low RH (1.89, 95% CI 1.74–2.06), high DTD (1.41, 95% CI 1.31–1.53), and high NO₂ (1.05, 95% CI 1.03–1.06). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This study suggests that environmental exposure may be a key trigger for outpatient visits for childhood AD with apparent seasonal effects. Tailored preventive strategies to avoid environmental triggers of childhood AD should be developed.