Abstract
We studied the combined effect of air pollutant concentrations and meteorological factors [e.g., temperature and atmospheric pressure (AP)] on the acute exacerbation of coronary obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 277 older patients with COPD (240 men and 37 women; average age, 75.3 ± 9.3 years). Average air pollutant concentrations, AP, temperature, and relative humidity corresponding to each of the 7 days before the date of hospitalisation were identified as the case and the two other weekly averages, 4 and 8 weeks prior to admission, were considered the controls. During the warming-up season, COPD exacerbation more likely occurred on days of temperature increase or AP decrease than on other days. Increments in CO, NO2 and O3 concentrations were significantly associated with 5%, 11% and 4% increases in COPD exacerbation risks, respectively. During the cooling-down season, increments in PM10 concentrations were significant risk factors; the exacerbation likely occurred on days of temperature decreases than on other days. Air pollution with increased NO2, CO, O3 and PM10 concentrations and continual temperature changes (colder during cooling-down seasons or hotter during warning-up seasons) were associated with acute exacerbation of COPD in older patients.
Highlights
Chronic obstructive lung disease is the seventh leading cause of mortality in Taiwan[1] and the third leading cause of mortality in the United States[2]
Unlike air pollution, which has a monotonic, linear dose–response relationship, the associations observed with temperature are often nonlinear, in climates where physiologically stressful temperatures occur on either side of a zone of relatively comfortable temperatures[12,13]
This study investigated the association between acute exacerbated COPD (AECOPD) and the effects of climate change during different seasons, including changes in temperature, atmospheric pressure (AP), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration
Summary
Chronic obstructive lung disease is the seventh leading cause of mortality in Taiwan[1] and the third leading cause of mortality in the United States[2]. Exposure to some environmental factors can cause the exacerbation, such as air pollutants, occupational hazards, and infections[9]; their effects remain poorly understood. The anticipated effects of climate change include increases in temperature variability and extreme cold weather conditions. A large case-crossover study in Taiwan reported a 0.8% increase in the risk of COPD exacerbations for every 1 °C decrease in the mean daily temperature in cold weather[7]. This study investigated the association between AECOPD and the effects of climate change during different seasons, including changes in temperature, atmospheric pressure (AP), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration
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