Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Non-pharmaceutical interventions have been implemented globally to control the COVID-19 pandemic and have been shown to alleviate both allergies and respiratory infections. Although mask-wearing is an accepted non-pharmaceutical intervention, the effects of social distancing have not been thoroughly evaluated.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of social distancing on asthma trends in Seoul, South Korea.
METHODS: This study included data from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea, covering approximately 10 million people in Seoul. Daily and monthly data of patients with asthma from 2018 to 2021 were examined, and the degree of social distancing performance was measured using the number of subway users as an index. Pearson\'s correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the two indices. The change-point detection technique, cross-correlation, and Granger causality method were used to assess the temporal causality between social distancing and asthma.
RESULTS: The number of patients with asthma decreased by 42.4 % from 2019 to 2020, while that of subway users decreased by 26.3 % during this period. Pearson\'s correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations. Asthma and subway users showed a significant change in incidence following the implementation of social distancing; subway users showed a causal relationship with patients with asthma.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the number of subway users decreased after the implementation of strict social distancing, coinciding with a decrease in the number of patients with asthma. These findings suggest that social distancing measures implemented to control COVID-19 may reduce the incidence and exacerbation of asthma.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of social distancing on asthma trends in Seoul, South Korea.
METHODS: This study included data from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea, covering approximately 10 million people in Seoul. Daily and monthly data of patients with asthma from 2018 to 2021 were examined, and the degree of social distancing performance was measured using the number of subway users as an index. Pearson\'s correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the two indices. The change-point detection technique, cross-correlation, and Granger causality method were used to assess the temporal causality between social distancing and asthma.
RESULTS: The number of patients with asthma decreased by 42.4 % from 2019 to 2020, while that of subway users decreased by 26.3 % during this period. Pearson\'s correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations. Asthma and subway users showed a significant change in incidence following the implementation of social distancing; subway users showed a causal relationship with patients with asthma.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the number of subway users decreased after the implementation of strict social distancing, coinciding with a decrease in the number of patients with asthma. These findings suggest that social distancing measures implemented to control COVID-19 may reduce the incidence and exacerbation of asthma.
摘要：
背景：非药物干预措施已在全球范围内实施，以控制COVID-19大流行，并已证明可缓解过敏和呼吸道感染。虽然戴口罩是一种公认的非药物干预措施，社会距离的影响尚未得到彻底评估。
目的：评估社会距离对首尔哮喘趋势的影响，韩国。
方法：这项研究包括来自韩国国民健康保险服务的数据，覆盖首尔大约1000万人。检查了2018年至2021年哮喘患者的每日和每月数据，并以地铁用户数量为指标衡量社会距离绩效。Pearson相关系数用于确定两个指标之间的关系。变化点检测技术，互相关，使用Granger因果关系方法评估社交距离与哮喘之间的时间因果关系。
结果：从2019年到2020年，哮喘患者人数减少了42.4％，而地铁用户在此期间减少了26.3％。Pearson相关分析显示显著正相关。实施社交距离后，哮喘和地铁用户的发病率显着变化；地铁用户与哮喘患者存在因果关系。
结论：我们的结果表明，在实施严格的社交距离后，地铁用户的数量有所减少，与哮喘患者数量的减少相吻合。这些结果表明，为控制COVID-19而实施的社交距离措施可能会降低哮喘的发病率和恶化程度。
目的：评估社会距离对首尔哮喘趋势的影响，韩国。
方法：这项研究包括来自韩国国民健康保险服务的数据，覆盖首尔大约1000万人。检查了2018年至2021年哮喘患者的每日和每月数据，并以地铁用户数量为指标衡量社会距离绩效。Pearson相关系数用于确定两个指标之间的关系。变化点检测技术，互相关，使用Granger因果关系方法评估社交距离与哮喘之间的时间因果关系。
结果：从2019年到2020年，哮喘患者人数减少了42.4％，而地铁用户在此期间减少了26.3％。Pearson相关分析显示显著正相关。实施社交距离后，哮喘和地铁用户的发病率显着变化；地铁用户与哮喘患者存在因果关系。
结论：我们的结果表明，在实施严格的社交距离后，地铁用户的数量有所减少，与哮喘患者数量的减少相吻合。这些结果表明，为控制COVID-19而实施的社交距离措施可能会降低哮喘的发病率和恶化程度。
