Association Between Air Pollutants and Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Time Stratified Case‐Crossover Design With a Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model. (31st January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Yanchen; Han, Xiaoli; Cui, Xudong; Zhao, Xiangkai; Zhao, Xin; Zheng, Hongmiao; Zhang, Benzhong; Ren, Xiaowei
• Is Part Of: GeoHealth. Volume 6:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-01-31
• Subjects: air pollutants -- AECOPD -- time‐stratified case‐crossover study -- distributed lag nonlinear model; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.98
• DOI: 10.1029/2021GH000529
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2471-1403

Abstract

Abstract: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (AECOPD) as a respiratory disease, is considered to be related to air pollution by more and more studies. However, the evidence on how air pollution affect the incidence of AECOPD and whether there are population differences is still insufficient. Therefore, we select PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 as representatives combined with daily AECOPD admission data from 1 January 2015 to 26 June 2016 in the rural areas of Qingyang, northwestern China to explore the associations of air pollution with AECOPD. Based on a time‐stratified case‐crossover design, we constructed a distributed lag nonlinear model to qualify the single and cumulative lagged effects of air pollution on AECOPD. Stratified related risks by sex and age were also reported. The cumulative exposure‐response curves were approximately linear for PM2.5, "V"‐shaped for PM10, "U"‐shaped for NO2 and inverted‐"V" for SO2, CO and O3 . Exposure to high‐PM2.5 (42 μg/m 3 ), high‐PM10 (91 μg/m 3 ), high‐SO2 (58 μg/m 3 ), low‐NO2 (12 μg/m 3 ), and high‐CO (1.55 mg/m 3 ) increased the risk of AECOPD. Females aged 15–64 were more susceptible under extreme concentrations of PM2.5, SO2, CO, and low‐PM10 than other subgroups. In addition, adults aged 15–64 were more sensitive to extreme concentrations of NO2 compared with the elderly ≥65 years old, while the latter were more sensitive to high‐PM10 . High‐SO2, high‐NO2, and extreme concentrations of PM2.5 had the greatest effects on the day of exposure, while low‐SO2 and low‐CO had lagged effects on AECOPD. Precautionary measures should be taken with a focus on vulnerable subgroups, to control hospitalization for AECOPD associated with air pollutants. Plain Language Summary: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (AECOPD) as a respiratory disease, is considered to be related to air pollution. However, we still don't know how air pollution affect the incidence of AECOPD and whether it has different effects on different groups of people. Therefore, we select PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 as representatives combined with daily AECOPD data to explore the associations of air pollution with AECOPD. By fitting the model, we found that in the cases of high‐PM2.5, high‐PM10, high‐SO2, low‐NO2, and high‐CO, the incidence of AECOPD were higher. Females aged 15–64 were more vulnerable under extreme concentrations of PM2.5, SO2, CO and low‐PM10 than other people. In addition, adults were more sensitive to extreme concentrations of NO2 compared with the old people >64 years old, while the latter were more sensitive to high‐PM10 . It was the day of high‐SO2, high‐NO2, and extreme concentrations of PM2.5 had the highest incidence of AECOPD. However, in the case of low‐SO2 and low‐CO, the incidence of AECOPD gradually increased with time until a certain day. Therefore, we must take preventive measures to control the occurrence of AECOPD during extreme air pollution, especially for those who are more sensitive. Key Points: Exposure to high‐PM2.5, high‐PM10, high‐SO2, low‐NO2, and high‐CO increased the risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD) The cumulative curves were approximately linear for PM2.5, "V"‐shaped for PM10, "U"‐shaped for NO2 and inverted‐"V" for SO2, CO and O3 The nonlinear effects on acute exacerbation of COPD at different lags varied based on the air pollutants, involved gender and age