Pollution exposure associated with multimorbidity risk

Exposure to air pollution known as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk of having a cluster of multiple chronic diseases, according to a new study published recently in the journal PLOS Global Public Health.

In the new study, the researchers used data on 19,098 respondents of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) surveys from 2011 to 2015 and historical satellite data on PM2.5 exposure over 15 years. Participants were people aged 45 to 85 from 125 cities across China.

When the team modelled self-reported chronic disease diagnosis and PM2.5 exposure, they found four groups of multimorbidity: respiratory, musculoskeletal, cardio-metabolic, and healthy.

A 1g/m3 increase in cumulative PM2.5 exposure over 15 years was linked to a 2.4% increased risk of respiratory, 1.5% increased risk of musculoskeletal, and 3.3% increased risk of cardio-metabolic clusters.

The models also showed a U-shaped association between PM2.5 and multimorbidity. The increased multimorbidity at the low end of the spectrum may be due to differences in rural-urban living and economic development.