Global Associations between Air Pollutants and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Hospitalizations: A Systematic Review.
View / Open Files
Authors
Moore, E
Kuku, M-O
Smeeth, L
Beevers, S
Kelly, FJ
Barratt, B
Quint, J
Publication Date
2016-10-01Journal Title
Annals of the American Thoracic Society
ISSN
2325-6621
Publisher
American Thoracic Society
Volume
13
Issue
10
Pages
1814-1827
Language
English
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Moore, E., Chatzidiakou, E., Kuku, M., Jones, R., Smeeth, L., Beevers, S., Kelly, F., et al. (2016). Global Associations between Air Pollutants and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Hospitalizations: A Systematic Review.. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 13 (10), 1814-1827. https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201601-064OC
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exacerbations are key events in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), affecting lung function decline and quality of life. The effect of exposure to different air pollutants on COPD exacerbations is not clear. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a systematic review examining associations between air pollutants and hospital admissions for COPD exacerbations. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS & Science Citation Index, and the Air Pollution Epidemiology Database were searched from 1980 until September 2015. DATA EXTRACTION: Inclusion criteria focused on studies presenting solely a COPD outcome defined by hospital admissions, and a measure of gaseous air pollutants and particle fractions. The association between each pollutant with COPD admissions was investigated in metaanalyses using random-effects models. Analyses were stratified by geographical clusters to investigate the consistency of the evidence worldwide. SYNTHESIS: 46 studies were included and results for all the pollutants under investigation showed marginal positive associations; however the number of included studies was small with high heterogeneity between them and there was evidence of small-study bias. Geographical clustering of the effects of pollution on COPD hospital admissions was evident and reduced heterogeneity significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The most consistent associations was between a 1mg/m3 increase in carbon monoxide levels with COPD related admissions; Odds Ratio: 1.02 (95%CI: 1.01-1.03). The heterogeneity was moderate and there was a consistent positive association in both Europe and North America, although levels were clearly below WHO guideline values. There is mixed evidence on the effects of environmental pollution on COPD exacerbations. Limitations of previous studies included the low spatiotemporal resolution of pollutants, inadequate control for confounding factors, and the use of aggregated health data that ignore personal characteristics. The need for more targeted exposure estimates in a large number of geographical locations is evident.
Sponsorship
This research was funded by the Medical Research Council (MR/L019744/1 [B.B.]). It was also supported by the Medical Research Council-Public Health England (MRC-PHE) Centre for Environment and Health and the National Ins titute for Health Resear ch (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre based at Guy’s and St . Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London.
Funder references
MRC (via King's College London) (unknown)
NERC (NE/N007085/1)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201601-064OC
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/260276
Rights
Licence:
http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved