Abstract
We conducted a time-series analysis of the relations between daily levels of allergenic pollen and mortality in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area with 153 378 deaths; 9742 from respiratory and 57 402 from cardiovascular causes. Daily (average) pollen counts of alder, birch, mugwort and grass were measured. In quasi-Poisson regression analysis, abundant alder pollen increased the risk of non-accidental deaths with an adjusted cumulative mortality rate ratio (acMRR) of 1.10 (95% CI 1.01–1.19) and of deaths from respiratory-diseases with acMRR of 1.78 (95% CI 1.19–2.65). Abundant mugwort pollen increased cardiovascular mortality (1.41, 1.02–1.95). These findings identify an important global public health problem.
Highlights
Exposures to pollen from certain trees, grasses and herbs have been associated with some symptoms and signs of allergic reactions among subjects with asthma and allergies.[1]
We identified only one previous study that had assessed the relation between airborne pollen concentrations and daily respiratory and cardiovascular mortality
In quasiPoisson regression analysis adjusting for confounding, abundant alder pollen increased the risk of non-accidental deaths with adjusted cumulative mortality rate ratio (acMRR) of 1.10 (95% Confidence interval 1.01–1.19), deaths from respiratory-diseases with acMRR of 1.78 (1.19–2.65)
Summary
Exposures to pollen from certain trees, grasses and herbs have been associated with some symptoms and signs of allergic reactions among subjects with asthma and allergies.[1]. Brunekreef and colleagues[5] studied the relations of cardiovascular and respiratory mortality to the levels of most frequently occurring pollen, including grass, birch and oak pollen, in the Netherlands. In Poisson regression analysis, a doseresponse relation was present between the weekly average level of grass pollen and mortality from cardiovascular disease, COPD and pneumonia. Methods: We employed difference-in-difference models using longitudinal data covering 202 incidents of job loss from the EU-Survey on Income and Living Conditions to quantify the impact of job loss on changes in self-reported health prior to and after the Fornero reforms (2011–14). To put the magnitude of this estimate in perspective, the incidence of a chronic illness, such as diabetes, results in a similar magnitude decline in self-reported health. Conclusions: Our analysis contributes to a growing body of evidence that the impact of job loss on health depends critically on the strength of social protection systems and, in some cases, could be eliminated completely
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