D2.405 - Correlation between Emergency visits and Olea pollen levels

Respiratory symptoms caused by aeroallergen sensitization are a frequent Emergency Unit assistance in our patients, being Olea europeae one of the most typical etiologies. Our objectives were to describe a population that came to our Energency Department referring respiratory and/or cutaneous symptoms with the Olea pollen levels as the main relationship during its bloom in 2023 and its correlationship with pollen levels during that year.

Medical reports from adults patients (more than 14 years old) with respiratory and/or cutaneous symptoms that came to our Emergency Unit at Hospital Quironsalud Cordoba during Olea europeae pollen bloom were selected,  looking for a correlationship between pollen levels and total number of patients that were evaluated. We excluded patients with fever, thick mucus or with symptoms related to viral infections. We reviewed these medical reports in our Allergy Department database looking for Olea sensitization.

621 patients (363 males and 258 females; mean age  41,69) came to our Emergency Department during Olea bloom in 2023 (8^th April to 31^st May). 270 (43,47%) came in April and 351 (56,53%) in May. 236 (38%) referred allergic rhinitis and 221 (35,58%) referred asthma, needing 146 (23,51%) several hours in the Observation Unit and 23 (3,7%) in the inpatients ward. The days with more pollen concentration showed us more Emergency Unit visits (p<0,01). 502 (80,83%) were diagnosed as allergic rhinitis in our Allergy Department, being in 480 (77,29%) Olea europeae as the main trigger.

• During 2023, the most typical patient that came to our Emergency Department was a mean age male with respiratory symptoms and Olea pollen sensitization.
• There is a great correlationship between Olea pollen and Emergency Department visits.
• A better knowledge about pollen levels would help us to prevent our patient´s attacks, reducing their visits to Emergency Units.