biostudies-literatureUnknown10(2)Lee MTThis 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 oGeoHealthe2025GH001332https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12852965biostudies-literatureImpact of Wildfire Smoke on Respiratory Disease Associated Healthcare Utilization in Gang-Won Province, South Korea, in 2017.PMC12852965Baik JJung SYCha HLee MTMoon KMGu KMJung HILee JWJun CfalseImpact 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 o2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-06-19T05:01:30.745Z2026-06-19T03:07:21.548ZS-EPMC128529654162627710.1029/2025GH001332