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Evidence of the short-term effects of ambient sulfur dioxide (SO2) exposure on the economic burden of ischemic stroke is limited. This study aimed to explore the association between short-term ambient SO2 exposure and hospitalization costs for ischemic stroke in Chongqing, the most populous city in China. The hospital-based study included 7271 ischemic stroke inpatients. Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the association between SO2 concentration and hospitalization costs. Propensity score matching was used to compare the patients' characteristics when exposed to SO2 concentrations above and below 20 μg/m3. It is found that short-term SO2 exposure was positively correlated with the hospitalization costs of ischemic stroke. The association was more evident in males, people younger than 65, and people hospitalized in the cool seasons. Besides, among the components of hospitalization costs, medicine costs were most significantly associated with SO2. More interesting, the lower concentration of SO2, the higher costs associated with 1 μg/m3 SO2 change. Above all, SO2 was positively associated with hospitalization costs of ischemic stroke, even at its low levels. The measures to reduce the level of SO2 can help reduce the burden of ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) as a non-communicable disease imposes heavy disease burdens on society. Limited studies have been conducted to assess the effects of short-term air pollution exposure on T2DM, especially in Asian regions. Our research aimed to determine the association between short-term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) and outpatient visits for T2DM in Chongqing, the largest city in western China, based on the data collected from November 28, 2013 to December 31, 2019. A generalized additive model (GAM) was applied, and stratified analyses were performed to investigate the potential modifying effects by age, gender, and season. Meanwhile, the disease burden was revealed from attributable risk. Positive associations between short-term NO 2 and daily T2DM outpatient visits were observed. The strongest association was observed at lag 04, with per 10 μg/m3 increase of NO 2 corresponded to increased T2DM outpatient visits at 1.57% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.48%, 2.65%]. Stronger associations were presented in middle-aged group (35–64 years old), male group, and cool seasons (October to March). Moreover, there were 1.553% (8664.535 cases) of T2DM outpatient visits attributable to NO 2. Middle-aged adults, males, and patients who visited in cool seasons suffered heavier burdens. Conclusively, short-term exposure to NO 2 was associated with increased outpatient visits for T2DM. Attention should be paid to the impact of NO 2 on the burden of T2DM, especially for those vulnerable groups. • Short-term NO 2 exposure was related to increased outpatient T2DM visits. • The association was more obvious in middle-aged adults, males, and cool seasons. • New evidence of positive associations between short-term NO 2 and T2DM in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]