Prevalence of respiratory diseases in relation to smoking rate in adults living in four Chinese cities: a comparison between 2017-2018 and 1993-1996

Assessing the Impact of Air Quality and Socioeconomic Conditions on Respiratory Disease Incidence

Background and Objective: Air pollution poses significant risks to global public health and has well-established links to respiratory diseases. This study investigates the associations between air pollution markers-Air Quality Index (AQI), ambient ozone, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-and the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and tuberculosis. It also examines how socioeconomic factors such as gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, tobacco prevalence, and healthcare expenditure influence these relationships. This study includes data from 27 countries, thereby offering a global perspective to inform public health interventions and policy reforms. Methods: Data on average air pollution levels, respiratory disease incidence, and socioeconomic factors were collected from publicly available sources spanning four years. The 27 countries included in the study were selected to represent a broad range of pollution levels, income brackets, and geographical regions. Statistical analyses were performed using Python 3.12.0 to explore the relationships between these variables. Key Findings: AQI and NO2 levels were significantly associated with increased incidences of COPD and tuberculosis, with rates rising especially during periods of heightened pollution. Conversely, ambient ozone exhibited inconsistent relationships with respiratory diseases, heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors. Higher GDP per capita and healthcare expenditure were linked to improved management of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, though they also corresponded with higher reporting of chronic conditions such as COPD. Tobacco smoking emerged as a critical risk factor for COPD across all regions. Conclusions: This study underscores the strong associations between air pollutants and respiratory diseases, particularly tuberculosis and COPD, with socioeconomic factors significantly influencing these relationships. Reducing air pollution and improving healthcare systems, particularly in low-income regions, are essential to mitigating the global burden of respiratory diseases.

Spatio-temporal evaluation of respiratory disease based on the information provided by patients admitted to a medical college hospital in Bangladesh using geographic information system

In Bangladesh respiratory illnesses are one of the leading risk factors for death and disability. Limited access to healthcare services, indoor and outdoor air pollution, large-scale use of smoking materials, allergens, and lack of awareness are among the known leading factors contributing to respiratory illness in Bangladesh. Key initiatives taken by the government to handle respiratory illnesses include, changing of respiratory health policy, building awareness, enhancing healthcare facility, and promoting prevention measures. Despite all these efforts, the number of individuals suffering from respiratory diseases has increased steadily during the recent years. This study aims at examining the distribution pattern of respiratory diseases over space and time using Geographic Information System, which is expected to contribute to the better understand of the factors contributing to respiratory illness development. To achieve the aims of the study two interviews were conducted among patients with respiratory sickness in the medicine and respiratory medicine units of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital between January and April of 2019 and 2020 following the guidelines provided by the Ethics Committee, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh (ethical approval reference number: 2018/08). Principal component extraction and spatial statistical analyses were performed to identify the key respiratory illnesses and their geographical distribution pattern respectively. The results indicate, during January-February the number of patients was a lot higher compared to March-April. The patients were hospitalized mainly due to four respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, and pulmonary hypertension). Geographical distribution pattern of respiratory disease cases also varied considerably between the years as well as months of the years. This information seems reasonable to elucidate the spatio-temporal distribution of respiratory disease and thus improve the existing prevention, control, and cure practices of respiratory illness of the study area. Approach used in this study to elicit spatio-temporal distribution of repertory disease can easily be implemented in other areas with similar geographical settings and patients' illness information from hospital.

Short-term ambient air pollution exposure and adult primary insomnia outpatient visits in Chongqing, China: A time-series analysis

Growing evidence suggest that air pollutants can be associated with sleep disorders. However, no study has explored the association of short-term air pollution exposure with primary insomnia, a specific type of sleep disorders. To evaluate the correlation of short-term air pollution exposure with adult primary insomnia outpatient visits in Chongqing, China, we collected data of adult primary insomnia outpatient visits and air pollutants' concentrations between 2013 and 2019 and the associations were estimated with single-day lags as well as moving average lags using a generalized additive model. Totally, 23,919 outpatient visits for adult primary insomnia were identified. The daily data of adult insomnia outpatient visits, air pollutants (NO₂, CO, SO₂, O₃, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) and meteorological conditions (daily mean temperature and relative humidity) were gathered. Short-term exposure to multiple air pollutants, especially NO₂ and SO₂, was associated with adult primary insomnia visits. A 10 μg/m³ increase in NO₂ and SO₂ at lag 05 corresponded to increased primary insomnia outpatient visits 3.87% (95% CI: 1.50%-6.24%) and 7.22% (95% CI: 2.10%-12.35%), respectively. Moreover, stronger links were presented in females and cool seasons for NO₂ while in the elderly for SO₂. Collectively, this time-series study suggested that short-term exposure to air pollutants, especially to NO₂ and SO₂, was associated with higher risk of adult primary insomnia outpatient visits, and such association could to be sex-, age-, and season-modified.