Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (Aug 2022)
Exposure to Atmospheric Ozone Disruption and Altitude Over 3500 m.a.s.l. are Associated with a Higher Prevalence of Photodermatoses in Pediatric Population of High-Altitude in Peru
Abstract
Willy Ramos,1,2 Ericson L Gutierrez,1,3 Jhony A De La Cruz-Vargas,1 Jesús Díaz,4 Jorge Hurtado,2 Gerardo Ronceros,2 Esther de Vries5 1Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biomédicas (INICIB), Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Perú; 2Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú; 3Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Perú; 4Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, Chiclayo, Perú; 5Departamento de Epidemiologia Clínica y Bioestadística, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, ColombiaCorrespondence: Willy Ramos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biomédicas (INICIB), Universidad Ricardo Palma, Av. Alfredo Benavides 5440, Santiago de Surco, Lima, 15039, Perú, Email [email protected]: To determine if exposure to atmospheric ozone disruption and other factors are associated with photodermatoses in the high-altitude pediatric population in Peru.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study based on data obtained from studies of dermatological diseases among the population exposed to mine tailings in Peru which included children under the age of 18 in 6 population centers located over 2500 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l). We evaluated the presence of photodermatoses and possible associated factors obtaining the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and confidence intervals (CI).Results: 594 children below the age of 18 participated in this study, 53.0% girls, the average age was 10.4 ± 4.1 years. 51.3% were exposed to a mini hole in the ozone layer, 60.1% resided at an altitude over 3500 m.a.s.l and 51.9% presented cutaneous manifestations of atopy upon physical examination. The prevalence of photodermatoses was 64.8%, of which the most frequent were actinic prurigo (49.3%), pityriasis alba (18.5%) and actinic cheilitis (4.4%). The multivariate analysis found that residing in a region exposed to the mini hole in the ozone layer (aOR = 4.23; CI 95%: 2.32– 7.72) and residing at an altitude over 3500 m.a.s.l (aOR = 2.76; CI 95%: 1.57– 4.86) were both independent associated factors to photodermatoses.Conclusion: A high prevalence of photodermatoses exists among the pediatric population living at high-altitude in Peru. Residing in a region exposed to a mini hole in the ozone layer and residing over 3500 m.a.s.l constituted associated factors.Keywords: ultraviolet rays, ozone depletion, high-altitude, children, adolescents
