Abstract
There is limited evidence linking the impacts of reduced air pollution on hospital admissions. The potential biological mechanisms are still not completely understood. This study examined the effects of mitigated ambient pollution on hospital admissions and inflammatory biomarker levels in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) COPD patients. Daily hospital admissions were compared over 51 days associated with the Asian Games period (Nov 1-Dec 21, 2010) with the identical calendar dates of baseline years (2004–2009 and 2011–2013). A three-year cohort study was conducted with 36 COPD patient participants. The daily particulate matter (PM10) decreased from 65.86 μg/m3 during the baseline period to 62.63 μg/m3 during the Asian Games period; the daily NO2 level decreased from 51.33 μg/m3 to 42.63 μg/m3. Between the baseline period and the Asian Games, daily hospital admissions from non-accidental diseases decreased from 116 to 93, respectively; respiratory diseases decreased from 20 to 17, respectively; and cardiovascular diseases decreased from 11 to 9 during the Asian Games period, respectively. No statistically significant reductions were seen in the remaining months of 2010 in Guangzhou, during the the Asian Games period in the control city, and two other control diseases. Furthermore, we identified significant improvement in CRP and fibrinogen by -20.4% and -15.4% from a pre-Asian game period to a during-Asian game period, respectively. For CRP, we found significant increases in NO2 at lag1-3 days after-Asian game period and significant increases in PM10 at lag1-2 days. Similar effects were also seen with fibrinogen. This discovery provides support for efforts to diminish air pollution and improve public health through human air pollutants intervention. Improved air pollution during the 2010 Asian games was correlated with decreases in biomarkers associated with systemic inflammation in COPD patient participants.
Highlights
Over the past decades, studies have linked short-term high concentrations of air pollutants to hospital admissions, most mainly due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases [1, 2]
This study explored the effects of air pollution exposure on the CRP and fibrinogen of systemic inflammation in 36 clinically stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients participating in a three-year cohort study (2009–2011)
During the Guangzhou Asian games, diminished air pollution was associated with reduced hospital admissions, as well as an acute reduction in CRP and fibrinogen associated with systemic inflammation in COPD
Summary
Studies have linked short-term high concentrations of air pollutants to hospital admissions, most mainly due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases [1, 2]. Evidences for air pollution mitigation is limited by failing to mention that prior study has shown an association between air pollution reduction and hospitalizations [3,4,5]. These linkages highlight the need to develop effective environmental policies or air quality legislation to improve air pollution; questions remain about whether improved air pollution resulting from air pollution control measures lead to public-health benefits [6, 7]. Previous findings (such as the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008) have supported efforts to diminish air pollution and improve public health by controlling industrial emissions and limiting transportation [8]. Efforts are still needed to explore the health effects of air quality that has been improved through human air pollutants intervention
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