La exposición a la contaminación atmosférica se asocia con más ingresos hospitalarios por infecciones respiratorias de vías bajas
Atmospheric contamination is a known risk factor of respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary cooling (COPD). Embargo on sin, your contribution to Respiratory infections of low roads – those that affect the lower respiratory tract, including lungs, bronchi and alveoli – is less documen, special in adults. To address the knowledge lagoon, a team from the Global Health Institute of Barcelona (ISGLOBAL), a center imported by the «La Caixa» Foundation, evaluated the Effect of air pollution on hospital admissions dueAnd investigated the existence of specialMental Subgroups vulnerable to these infection. The results have been published in the magazine International Environment.
The research mass that the Long -term exposure to atmospheric contamination by suspended particles (P.M2.5 And pm10)nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (EITHER3) Is associated with More hospital admissions for infections of the low respiratory tract in adults. The social were stronger in the manPeople Older than 65 years and the diagnosis of hypertension.
In the study they participated 3,800,000 cohort adults CatA great cohort of 7.7 million people who use data from the Health System of Catalonia. The research team used exposure models to estimate the annual PM concentrans2.5P.M10NO2 And ozone during the warm station (May-September) between 2018 and 2020 In the residences of the participants. Information on hospital income, mortality and comorbilides was obtained from several administrative databases. The study included hospital admissions for all low -road respiratory infections and, separately, the hospital and pneumonia hospital intake. Next, a static model was used to evaluate the association between atmospheric pollution and hospital intakes.
«The association between atmospheric pollution and hospital admissions due to low respiratory infections Anna AlariIslobal researcher and first author of the study. «Escura Crucal adopt more strict air quality standards, since more ambitious measures to reduce atmospheric pollution would decrease lassas -hospitalizations and protect vulnerable basisals,»
Mayor Association in men and people over 65
The associature between air pollution and hospitalizations for respiratory infections of low roads was more pronounced in persons over 65 years of age or with comorbidities, compared to compared to mavenes or sen comorbidities. Specifically, high levels of air pollution were associated with TAXIMADAMETE TIMES THREE TIMES OF HOSPITAL RECORDS THREE For respiratory infections of low roads among people over 65 compared to younger people.
In addition, exposure to high levels of no2P.M2.5 Or pm10 (But not or3) Was associated with a increase approximately a 50% in hospital income Among men, while it is associative, it was around 3% of mayor in women.
The team observed the same pattern in the hospital income from influenza or pneumonia, but with minor associations compared to the underage upstream of low roads. «This may be due to the influence of the vaccines available against the pathogens responsible for the flu and most cases of pneumonia,» he says Tonne de CathrynSenior author of the study.
Reference:
Anna Alari, A., Ranzani, O., Milà, C., Olmos, S., Basegaña, X., Dadvand, P., Duarte-Sales, T., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Tonne, C. in the long term Exposure to air pollution and lower respiratory infections in a large adult cohort based on the population in Catalonia. Environment International, 2025. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.109230
