Impact of Wildfire Smoke on Respiratory Disease Associated Healthcare Utilization in Gang‐Won Province, South Korea, in 2017

This study aimed to elucidate the association between wildfire smoke exposure and healthcare utilization for respiratory diseases in Samcheok (City), Gangwon Province, South Korea, focusing on a major wildfire that occurred on 6-9 May 2017. The relative risks (RRs) of healthcare utilization for respiratory diseases in a direct-exposure area (Samcheok) during (6-9 May 2017) and post (10 May-6 June 2017) wildfire periods, relative to the pre-wildfire period (22 April-5 May 2017) were analyzed. The post-wildfire period was divided into immediate and extended, each with a 2-week interval. Additionally, the relative risk ratios (RRRs) of healthcare utilization were analyzed for the same period in 2018, when no wildfire occurred. In the direct-exposure area (Samcheok), there were increased RRs of respiratory disease healthcare utilization for all ages in the wildfire (RR = 1.81, 95% confidence intervals CI: 1.67-1.96) and extended post-wildfire (RR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.20-1.33) periods. The highest risk was observed in children aged <9 years in the wildfire (RR = 2.20, 95% CI: 2.04-2.38) and extended post-wildfire (RR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.37-1.52) periods. Compared with that of the corresponding periods in 2018, significant increases in the RRRs were observed during the wildfire (RRR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.15-1.45) and extended post-wildfire (RRR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.61-1.91) periods. The wildfire in Gangwon province significantly increased healthcare utilization for respiratory diseases during the wildfire and post-wildfire periods.