Climatic variability and morbidity and mortality associated with particulate matter

• Published in: Revista de saúde pública Vol. 51; p. 91
• Main Authors: Rodrigues, Poliany Cristiny de Oliveira, Pinheiro, Samya de Lara, Junger, Washington, Ignotti, Eliane, Hacon, Sandra de Souza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo 01-01-2017; Universidade de São Paulo
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - chemistry; Air Pollutants - toxicity; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality; Doenças Cardiovasculares, epidemiologia; Estações do Ano; Estudos de Séries Temporais; Estudos Ecológicos; Fatores de Risco; Health Policy & Services; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Humidity; Inhalation Exposure - adverse effects; Material Particulado, efeitos adversos; Middle Aged; Original; Particulate Matter - chemistry; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Poluentes do Ar; Reference Values; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Seasons; Temperature; Risk Factors; Poluentes do Ar; Cardiovascular Diseases, epidemiology; Ecological Studies; Fatores de Risco; Estações do Ano; Particulate Matter, adverse effects; Time Series Studies; Doenças Cardiovasculares, epidemiologia; Material Particulado, efeitos adversos; Air Pollutants; Estudos Ecológicos; Seasons; Estudos de Séries Temporais
• ISSN: 0034-8910; 1518-8787; 1518-8787
• DOI: 10.11606/S1518-8787.2017051006952

The objective of this study has been to analyze whether fine particulate matter (PM2.5), as well as its synergistic effect with maximum temperature, humidity, and seasons, is associated with morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases.
This is an ecological study of time series. We have used as outcomes the daily death and hospitalization records of adults aged 45 years and over from 2009 to 2011 of the municipalities of Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. We have used Poisson regression using generalized additive models, assuming a significance level of 5%. The model has been controlled for temporal trend, seasonality, average temperature, humidity, and season effects. Daily concentrations of PM2.5 (particulate material with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) have been obtained by converting the values of optical aerosol thickness. Maximum temperature, humidity, and seasons have been separately included in the model as dummy variables for the analysis of the synergistic effect of PM2.5 with morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. We have calculated the percentage increase of relative risk (%RR) of deaths and hospitalizations for the linear increase of 10 μg/m3 of PM2.5.
Between 2009 and 2011, the increase in PM2.5 was associated with a %RR 2.28 (95%CI 0.53-4.06) for hospitalizations on the same day of exposure and RR% 3.57 (95%CI 0.82-6.38) for deaths with a lag of three days. On hot days, %RR 4.90 (95%CI -0.61-9.38) was observed for deaths. No modification of the effect of PM2.5 was observed for maximum temperature in relation to hospitalizations. On days with low humidity, %RR was 5.35 (95%CI -0.20-11.22) for deaths and 2.71 (95%CI -0.39-5.92) for hospitalizations. In the dry season, %RR was 2.35 (95%CI 0.59-4.15) for hospitalizations and 3.43 (95%CI 0.58-6.35) for deaths.
The PM2.5 is associated with morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases and its effects may be potentiated by heat and low humidity and during the dry season.