Associations between climatological factors and medical center visits for atopic dermatitis in Korea

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease influenced by various climatological factors. The bi-seasonal aggravation of AD in summer and winter has been postulated in previous studies. However, no population-based cohort studies have assessed the relationship between weather and aggravation of AD in Korea.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationships between climatological factors and number of hospital visits for AD in Korea.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database, hospital visits (2003-2012) for AD treatment were calculated. We extracted monthly averages for humidity, temperature, and pressure from the Korean Meteorological Administration and conducted correlation and regression analyses.

Results: In Korea, between the years 2003 and 2012, there were a total of 274,928 AD-related visits and 42,385 patients with AD. The number of hospital visits by AD patients was highest in summer, when there were high monthly temperatures and high relative humidity. A 1°C increase in monthly average temperature correlated with 67 more hospital visits for AD. Low humidity in winter was also associated with increased visits. A 1% decrease in monthly relative humidity correlated with 20 more hospital visits for AD. There were no significant associations between atmospheric variables and number of visits in spring and fall.

Conclusions: Clinical aggravation of AD could be associated with different climatological factors according to season in Korea.|아토피 피부염은 다양한 기후 요인에 의해 영향을 받는 만성적인 재발성 염증성 피부질환이다. 기후학적 요인들과 아토피 피부염의 상관관계가 여러 문헌을 통해 보고되었으나 기존 연구들은 주로 비교적 적은 모집단을 대상으로 한 것으로서 인구집단 기반 코호트 연구는 아직까지 한국에서 시행되지 않았다. 본 연구의 목적은 기상청에서 제공하는 기상 자료와 국민건강보험공단 표본코호트 자료를 이용하여 한국의 아토피 피부염 환자의 의료기관 내원과 기후학적 요인 사이의 상관관계를 평가하는 것이다. 2003년과 2012년 사이에 총 42,385명의 아토피 피부염 환자의 274,928회의 내원을 대상으로 하였다. 아토피 피부염 환자의 의료기관 내원은 기온이 높고 상대 습도가 높은 여름철에 가장 많았다. 여름에는 기온이 내원 횟수와 가장 상관관계가 깊었으며, 온도와 상대습도가 높을수록 내원 횟수도 증가하는 양상을 보였다. 겨울에는 상대습도가 내원 횟수와 유의한 상관관계를 보였고 상대습도가 낮을수록 내원 횟수는 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 봄과 가을에는 내원 횟수와 기후 요인 사이에 유의한 상관관계는 없었다. 결론적으로 아토피 피부염의 임상적인 악화는 계절에 따라 서로 다른 다양한 기후 요인과 상관관계가 있으며, 이에 대한 이해를 통해 향후 아토피 피부염 악화의 예방과 관리에 많은 도움이 될 것으로 생각한다.; Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease influenced by various climatological factors. The bi-seasonal aggravation of AD in summer and winter has been postulated in previous studies. However, no population-based cohort studies have assessed the relationship between weather and aggravation of AD in Korea.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationships between climatological factors and number of hospital visits for AD in Korea.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database, hospital visits (2003-2012) for AD treatment were calculated. We extracted monthly averages for humidity, temperature, and pressure from the Korean Meteorological Administration and conducted correlation and regression analyses.

Results: In Korea, between the years 2003 and 2012, there were a total of 274,928 AD-related visits and 42,385 patients with AD. The number of hospital visits by AD patients was highest in summer, when there were high monthly temperatures and high relative humidity. A 1°C increase in monthly average temperature correlated with 67 more hospital visits for AD. Low humidity in winter was also associated with increased visits. A 1% decrease in monthly relative humidity correlated with 20 more hospital visits for AD. There were no significant associations between atmospheric variables and number of visits in spring and fall.

Conclusions: Clinical aggravation of AD could be associated with different climatological factors according to season in Korea.