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Air pollution, lung function and COPD: results from the population-based UK Biobank study

Dany Doiron, Kees de Hoogh, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Isabel Fortier, Yutong Cai, Sara De Matteis, Anna L. Hansell
European Respiratory Journal 2019 54: 1802140; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02140-2018
Dany Doiron
1Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
2Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
3University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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  • For correspondence: dany.doiron@mail.mcgill.ca
Kees de Hoogh
2Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
3University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Nicole Probst-Hensch
2Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
3University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Isabel Fortier
1Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Yutong Cai
4Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
5Dept of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences, School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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Sara De Matteis
6National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Anna L. Hansell
4Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
7Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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  • ORCID record for Anna L. Hansell
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Abstract

Ambient air pollution increases the risk of respiratory mortality, but evidence for impacts on lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is less well established. The aim was to evaluate whether ambient air pollution is associated with lung function and COPD, and explore potential vulnerability factors.

We used UK Biobank data on 303 887 individuals aged 40–69 years, with complete covariate data and valid lung function measures. Cross-sectional analyses examined associations of land use regression-based estimates of particulate matter (particles with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 and 10 µm: PM2.5 and PM10, respectively; and coarse particles with diameter between 2.5 μm and 10 μm: PMcoarse) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), the FEV1/FVC ratio and COPD (FEV1/FVC <lower limit of normal). Effect modification was investigated for sex, age, obesity, smoking status, household income, asthma status and occupations previously linked to COPD.

Higher exposures to each pollutant were significantly associated with lower lung function. A 5 µg·m−3 increase in PM2.5 concentration was associated with lower FEV1 (−83.13 mL, 95% CI −92.50– −73.75 mL) and FVC (−62.62 mL, 95% CI −73.91– −51.32 mL). COPD prevalence was associated with higher concentrations of PM2.5 (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.42–1.62, per 5 µg·m−3), PM10 (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00–1.16, per 5 µg·m−3) and NO2 (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.10–1.14, per 10 µg·m−3), but not with PMcoarse. Stronger lung function associations were seen for males, individuals from lower income households, and “at-risk” occupations, and higher COPD associations were seen for obese, lower income, and non-asthmatic participants.

Ambient air pollution was associated with lower lung function and increased COPD prevalence in this large study.

Abstract

In one of the largest analyses to date, ambient air pollution exposure was associated with lower lung function and increased COPD prevalence, with stronger associations seen in those with lower incomes http://bit.ly/2DLBPA6

Footnotes

  • This article has supplementary material available from erj.ersjournals.com

  • Author contributions: D. Doiron, K. de Hoogh and A.L. Hansell proposed the study; all authors contributed to development of the study design; D. Doiron conducted the statistical analyses and wrote the first draft of the paper; all authors commented on results and contributed to the manuscript.

  • Conflict of interest: D. Doiron has nothing to disclose.

  • Conflict of interest: K. de Hoogh has nothing to disclose.

  • Conflict of interest: N. Probst-Hensch has nothing to disclose.

  • Conflict of interest: I. Fortier has nothing to disclose.

  • Conflict of interest: Y. Cai has nothing to disclose.

  • Conflict of interest: S. De Matteis has nothing to disclose.

  • Conflict of interest: A.L. Hansell has nothing to disclose.

  • Support statement: This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource under application number “9946”. Y. Cai is supported by an MRC Early Career Research Fellowship awarded through the MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health (grant number MR/M501669/1).

  • Received November 8, 2018.
  • Accepted April 22, 2019.
  • Copyright ©ERS 2019
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Air pollution, lung function and COPD: results from the population-based UK Biobank study
Dany Doiron, Kees de Hoogh, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Isabel Fortier, Yutong Cai, Sara De Matteis, Anna L. Hansell
European Respiratory Journal Jul 2019, 54 (1) 1802140; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02140-2018

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Air pollution, lung function and COPD: results from the population-based UK Biobank study
Dany Doiron, Kees de Hoogh, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Isabel Fortier, Yutong Cai, Sara De Matteis, Anna L. Hansell
European Respiratory Journal Jul 2019, 54 (1) 1802140; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02140-2018
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