Abstract
Background and purpose: Some studies have shown that air pollution, often assessed by thin particulate matter with diameter below 2.5 µg/m 3 (PM2.5), may contribute to severe COVID-19 courses, as well as play a role in the onset and evolution of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the impact of air pollution on COVID-19 has never been explored specifically amongst patients with MS (PwMS). This retrospective observational study aims to explore associations between PM2.5 and COVID-19 severity amongst PwMS.
Methods: Data were retrieved from an Italian web-based platform (MuSC-19) which includes PwMS with COVID-19. PM2.5 2016-2018 average concentrations were provided by the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service. Italian patients inserted in the platform from 15 January 2020 to 9 April 2021 with a COVID-19 positive test were included. Ordered logistic regression models were used to study associations between PM2.5 and COVID-19 severity.
Results: In all, 1087 patients, of whom 13% required hospitalization and 2% were admitted to an intensive care unit or died, were included. Based on the multivariate analysis, higher concentrations of PM2.5 increased the risk of worse COVID-19 course (odds ratio 1.90; p = 0.009).
Conclusions: Even if several other factors explain the unfavourable course of COVID-19 in PwMS, the role of air pollutants must be considered and further investigated.
Keywords: air pollution; coronavirus; multiple sclerosis.
【저자키워드】 coronavirus, Air pollution, multiple sclerosis., 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Evolution, intensive care, severe COVID-19, Hospitalization, multiple sclerosis, COVID-19 severity, Patient, monitoring, patients, platform, association, retrospective, Concentration, Analysis, Odds ratio, Factor, logistic regression model, average, web-based platform, Positive test, service, courses, Italian, Course, shown, died, include, investigated, required, provided, were used, contribute, explain, increased the risk, Italian patient, retrieved, with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 multiple sclerosis, COVID-19 severity, Patient,