Abstract
Air pollution can adversely affect the immune response and increase the severity of the viral disease. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between symptomatology, clinical course, and inflammation markers of adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalized in Poland (n = 4432) and air pollution levels, i.e., mean 24 h and max 24 h level of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) and <2.5 μm (PM2.5) during a week before their hospitalization. Exposures to PM2.5 and B(a)P exceeding the limits were associated with higher odds of early respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 and hyperinflammatory state: interleukin-6 > 100 pg/mL, procalcitonin >0.25 ng/mL, and white blood cells count >11 × 103/mL. Except for the mean 24 h PM10 level, the exceedance of other air pollution parameters was associated with increased odds for oxygen saturation <90%. Exposure to elevated PM2.5 and B(a)P levels increased the odds of oxygen therapy and death. This study evidences that worse air quality is related to increased severity of COVID-19 and worse outcome in hospitalized patients. Mitigating air pollution shall be an integral part of measures undertaken to decrease the disease burden during a pandemic of viral respiratory illness.
【저자키워드】 severe COVID-19, Epidemiology, Particulate matter, inflammation markers, benzo(a)pyrene, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, immune response, pandemic, Hospitalized, Hospitalization, severity, interleukin-6, procalcitonin, outcome, Poland, hospitalized patients, oxygen saturation, Clinical course, White blood cell, severity of COVID-19, Patient, death, Oxygen therapy, Air pollution, viral disease, Evidence, exposure, exposure to, measure, respiratory symptom, parameter, Hyperinflammatory, Affect, limit, decrease, the disease, elevated, viral respiratory, the mean, higher odd, inflammation marker, 【제목키워드】 Hospitalized, Poland, Clinical course, association, benzo[a]pyrene, COVID-19 in patient,