Mortality risks from a spectrum of causes associated with sand and dust storms in China

Abstract

Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) pose considerable health risks worldwide. Previous studies only indicated risk of SDS on overall mortality. This nationwide multicenter time-series study aimed to examine SDS-associated mortality risks extensively. We analyzed 1,495,724 deaths and 2024 SDS events from 1 February to 31 May (2013–2018) in 214 Chinese counties. The excess mortality risks associated with SDS were 7.49% (95% CI: 3.12–12.05%), 5.40% (1.25–9.73%), 4.05% (0.41–7.83%), 3.45% (0.34–6.66%), 3.37% (0.28–6.55%), 3.33% (0.07–6.70%), 8.90% (4.96–12.98%), 12.51% (6.31–19.08%), and 11.55% (5.55–17.89%) for ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, hypertensive heart disease, myocardial infarction, acute myocardial infarction, acute ischemic heart disease, respiratory disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respectively. SDS had significantly added effects on ischemic stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, and COPD mortality. Our results suggest the need to implement public health policy against SDS.