Association between air pollution and paediatric intestinal intussusception in Seoul, Korea: a time-series regression approach.

OBJECTIVES

The impact of air pollution on gastrointestinal diseases remains unclear. This study examines the association between air pollutants and paediatric intussusception incidence.

METHODS

Using data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), we analysed daily intussusception cases in Seoul (2009-2019). Air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulphur dioxide (SO2), were assessed alongside temperature. A generalized linear model with a negative binomial link function evaluated the relationship between each pollutant and intussusception incidence, adjusting for long-term trends and seasonality. A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) examined non-linear cumulative lag effects.

RESULTS

In the model without lag and non-linear effects, NO2 was significantly associated with intussusception incidence, while other pollutants and temperature showed no significant associations. DLNM analysis with a 3-day cumulative lag demonstrated a gradual increase in intussusception incidence with rising NO2 levels, with significant rate ratio changes at lag 0 and lag 1 but not at lag 2 or lag 3. Extending the cumulative lag to 2, 4 and 5 days showed progressively decreasing significant intervals.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest a potential link between NO2 exposure and paediatric intussusception. Further studies are needed to clarify underlying mechanisms.