246 Environmental injustice and risk for wildfire-associated skin flares

Environmental inequities are ubiquitous; emerging data suggest they affect the distribution of skin disease. The CalEnviroScreen is a cumulative environmental inequity score based on environmental, health, and sociodemographic data, allowing for comparison across census tracts in California. Previously, we showed that short-term exposure to wildfire smoke can exacerbate atopic dermatitis (AD). Here, hypothesize differences between patients seen before during/after wildfire. We collected (gender, patient-identified race, insurance type) via outpatient dermatology visits AD itch symptoms at an academic medical center from August 2018 – December 2018, 3 months before, during, 1 month after Camp Fire northern Differences “non-fire visits” “during fire were assessed using t-tests Pearson chi-square tests. difference mean was Welch t-test unequal variances. analyzed 2,123 (control) 1,560 period during (exposed). There no statistically significant sex (Pearson chi-square, P=0.61) or age (t-test, P= 0.72) two groups. However, groups, there race P=0.002) type P=0.021). higher than (Welch t-test, p < 0.01). Our findings flares may vary baseline injustice score, type. This suggests be underlying predispose certain wildfires, informing avenues future policy.