Abstract
Objectives:Air pollution is a hazardous environmental problem with several adverse health effects including its impact on the development of chronic diseases as diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to investigate the association of geographical distribution of air quality index (AQI) and type 2 diabetes mellitus in an air-polluted city by using geographic information system (GIS).Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in Isfahan, Iran. The records that have been registered from 2009 to 2012 in major referral public diabetes clinics were gathered; they included data of 1467 diabetic patients. Their living area was represented with spots in the city map. AQI data were also interpolated from monitoring stations spreading around the city. The GIS maps of air pollutants and diabetes were developed and the associations were determined.Results:The density of diabetic population was higher in highly polluted areas compared with areas with the lower levels of air pollution. No significant correlation was documented between the distribution of diabetic patients and air pollution level throughout the city.Conclusion:Although the density of diabetic patients was higher in areas with higher air pollution, but the lack of association between AQI and the prevalence of diabetes might be because the air of different parts of the city was highly polluted, and we could not compare the prevalence of diabetes in areas with clean and polluted air.
Highlights
Air pollution is a hazardous environmental problem with several adverse health effects including possible impact on chronic diseases as diabetes mellitus
The results from recent studies have indicated a positive correlation between prevalence of T2DM and air pollutants specially the nitrous oxide (NOx) gases.[3]
This study aimed to investigate the association of the geographical distribution of air pollutants and diabetes in an air-polluted city by using geographic information system (GIS)
Summary
Air pollution is a hazardous environmental problem with several adverse health effects including possible impact on chronic diseases as diabetes mellitus. T2DM has a complex etiology; in addition to genetic predisposition and unhealthy lifestyle habits, the role of environmental factors is becoming more evident. A growing body of evidence showed that exposure to ambient air pollutants is associated with insulin resistance[1], cardio metabolic risk factors[2] and T2DM. It is suggested that the escalating trend of non-communicable diseases includingT2DM might be, at least in part, because of exposure to air pollutants. The results from recent studies have indicated a positive correlation between prevalence of T2DM and air pollutants specially the nitrous oxide (NOx) gases.[3]
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