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2. |
- Kennedy, Beatrice, 1982-, et al.
(author)
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App-based COVID-19 syndromic surveillance and prediction of hospital admissions in COVID Symptom Study Sweden
- 2022
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The app-based COVID Symptom Study was launched in Sweden in April 2020 to contribute to real-time COVID-19 surveillance. We enrolled 143,531 study participants (≥18 years) who contributed 10.6 million daily symptom reports between April 29, 2020 and February 10, 2021. Here, we include data from 19,161 self-reported PCR tests to create a symptom-based model to estimate the individual probability of symptomatic COVID-19, with an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI 0.74-0.83) in an external dataset. These individual probabilities are employed to estimate daily regional COVID-19 prevalence, which are in turn used together with current hospital data to predict next week COVID-19 hospital admissions. We show that this hospital prediction model demonstrates a lower median absolute percentage error (MdAPE: 25.9%) across the five most populated regions in Sweden during the first pandemic wave than a model based on case notifications (MdAPE: 30.3%). During the second wave, the error rates are similar. When we apply the same model to an English dataset, not including local COVID-19 test data, we observe MdAPEs of 22.3% and 19.0% during the first and second pandemic waves, respectively, highlighting the transferability of the prediction model.
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3. |
- Oudin, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Is long-term exposure to air pollution associated with episodic memory? : a longitudinal study from northern Sweden
- 2017
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Associations between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and cognitive function have been observed in a few longitudinal studies. Our aim was to investigate the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and episodic memory, a marker of early cognitive decline. We used data from the Betula study in Northern Sweden, and included participants 60 to 85 of age at inclusion, 1,469 persons in total. The participants were followed for up to 22 years, five years apart between 1988 and 2010. A composite of five tasks was used as a measure of episodic memory measure (EMM), and the five-year change in EMM score (ΔEMM) was calculated such that a participant could contribute with up to four measurement pairs. A Land Use Regression Model was used to estimate cumulative annual mean of NOx at the residential address of the participants (a marker for long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution). There did not seem to be any association between exposure to traffic air pollution and episodic memory change, with a ΔEMM estimate of per 1 µg/m3 increase in NOx of 0.01 (95% Confidence Interval: -0.02,0.03). This is in contrast to a growing body of evidence suggesting associations between air pollution and cognitive function.
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4. |
- Oudin, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Traffic-Related Air Pollution as a Risk Factor for Dementia : No Clear Modifying Effects of APOEɛ4 in the Betula Cohort
- 2019
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In: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 71:3, s. 733-740
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It is widely known that the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele imposes a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent evidence suggests that exposure to air pollution is also a risk factor for AD, and results from a few studies indicate that the effect of air pollution on cognitive function and dementia is stronger in APOE ɛ4 carriers than in non-carriers. Air pollution and interaction with APOE ɛ4 on AD risk thus merits further attention. We studied dementia incidence over a 15-year period from the longitudinal Betula study in Northern Sweden. As a marker for long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution, we used modelled annual mean nitrogen oxide levels at the residential address of the participants at start of follow-up. Nitrogen oxide correlate well with fine particulate air pollution levels in the study area. We had full data on air pollution, incidence of AD and vascular dementia (VaD), APOE ɛ4 carrier status, and relevant confounding factors for 1,567 participants. As expected, air pollution was rather clearly associated with dementia incidence. However, there was no evidence for a modifying effect by APOE ɛ4 on the association (p-value for interaction > 0.30 for both total dementia (AD+VaD) and AD). The results from this study do not imply that adverse effects of air pollution on dementia incidence is limited to, or stronger in, APOE ɛ4 carriers than in the total population.
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5. |
- Oudin, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Traffic-Related air pollution as a risk factor for dementia : no clear modifying effects of apoe ɛ4 in the betula cohort
- 2021
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In: Alzheimer's disease and air pollution. - Amsterdam : IOS Press. - 2210-5727. - 9781643681597 - 9781643681580 ; , s. 357-364
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It is widely known that the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele imposes a higher risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent evidence suggests that exposure to air pollution is also a risk factor for AD, and results from a few studies indicate that the effect of air pollution on cognitive function and dementia is stronger in APOE ε4 carriers than in non-carriers. Air pollution and interaction with APOE ε4 on AD risk thus merits further attention. We studied dementia incidence over a 15-year period from the longitudinal Betula study in Northern Sweden. As a marker for long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution, we used modelled annual mean nitrogen oxide levels at the residential address of the participants at start of follow-up. Nitrogen oxide correlate well with fine particulate air pollution levels in the study area. We had full data on air pollution, incidence of AD and vascular dementia (VaD), APOE ε4 carrier status, and relevant confounding factors for 1,567 participants. As expected, air pollution was rather clearly associated with dementia incidence. However, there was no evidence for a modifying effect by APOE ε4 on the association (p-value for interaction > 0.30 for both total dementia (AD+VaD) and AD). The results from this study do not imply that adverse effects of air pollution on dementia incidence is limited to, or stronger in, APOE ε4 carriers than in the total population.
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6. |
- Andersson, John, 1979-
(author)
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Air pollution and dementia in a low exposure setting : the role of noise, olfaction, and theapoe gene
- 2023
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Previous research indicates an association between air pollution exposure, and risk of dementia. Still, a number of factors that may play a role in this association remain to be explored. In addition, while most studies on air pollution and brain health have taken place in highly exposed large urban areas, the studies included in this thesis are conducted in an area with relatively low levels of air pollution and road traffic noise.The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate possible mechanisms - more specifically the role of noise, olfaction and the APOE-ε4 allele - in the association between air pollution and dementia, in a low exposure area. Because olfactory deficits have been linked to air pollution, and can be an early sign of dementia, an additional aim is to examine associations between exposure to air pollution and olfactory function.Methods: Participants were drawn from the Betula project – a prospective cohort study – in Umeå, Sweden. Modelled data on concentrations of nitrogenoxides (NOx), fine particle matter (PM2.5) and levels of road traffic noise, were matched with participants residential address at baseline. PM2.5 levels at the day of testing were obtained from a measuring station in the vicinity of the test location. Data on dementia diagnoses, APOE status, olfactory functions, and covariates, were drawn from the Betula project. Dementia assessment was primarily based on medical records, and conducted by a geropsychiatrist. Odor identification was assessed using the Scandinavian Odor Identification Test, and odor detection threshold by “sniffin’ sticks”. APOE genotype was determined by DNA analyses of blood samples.Study I. Where there is pollution, there is also often noise. In addition, exposure to noise can increase the risk of dementia. The aim of study I was to investigate the individual and combined effect of noise and air pollution on risk of dementia. The results showed an association between NOx and dementia. However, noise from road traffic did not contribute to this association.Study II. Olfactory deficits can be an early sign of dementia and might also becaused by air pollution. Olfactory receptor cells in the nasal cavity are exposed to inhaled air, and the olfactory bulb is one of the areas of the brain most affectedby air pollution. The APOE-ε4 allele is important to consider, as it is a risk factor for both dementia and declining olfactory functions. The aim of study II was to investigate the role of olfaction and the APOE-ε4 allele in the association between air pollution and dementia. Stratified analyses showed that associations between PM2.5 and dementia persisted only among APOE-ε4 carriers, and those with poor odor identification ability.Study III. The olfactory system may be vulnerable to air pollution, and olfactory dysfunction is an early sign of dementia. In addition, the moderating effect of odor identification ability found in study II, could be explained by air pollution increasing the risk of olfactory functions and dementia independent of each other. Thus, the aim of study III was to investigate the associations between PM2.5 (both long term exposure, and concentrations on the day of testing), and odor identification and detection. A positive association was observed between longterm air pollution exposure and odor identification ability. No association was found between long term air pollution exposure and odor detection, or between short term exposure and either olfactory outcome.Conclusion: Low levels of long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of dementia. APOE-ε4 carriers, and those with poor odor identification ability, seem particularly vulnerable. No residual confounding from road traffic noisewas found, suggesting that air pollution is the main component in the association between traffic related exposures and dementia in low-exposure areas. The positive association between air pollution and odor identification might be explained by socioeconomic status, and the links between olfaction and semantic memory.
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7. |
- Andersson, John, et al.
(author)
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Pm2.5 and dementia in a low exposure setting : the influence of odor identification ability and APOE
- 2023
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In: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 92:2, s. 679-689
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Growing evidence show that long term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of dementia.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between PM2.5 exposure and dementia in a low exposure area, and to investigate the role of olfaction and the APOE ε4 allele in these associations.Methods: Data were drawn from the Betula project, a longitudinal study on aging, memory, and dementia in Sweden. Odor identification ability was assessed using the Scandinavian Odor Identification Test (SOIT). Annual mean PM2.5 concentrations were obtained from a dispersion-model and matched at the participants’ residential address. Proportional hazard regression was used to calculate hazard ratios.Results: Of 1,846 participants, 348 developed dementia during the 21-year follow-up period. The average annual mean PM2.5 exposure at baseline was 6.77 µg/m3, which is 1.77 µg/m3 above the WHO definition of clean air. In a fully adjusted model (adjusted for age, sex, APOE, SOIT, cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, and education) each 1 µg/m3 difference in annual mean PM2.5-concentration was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.23 for dementia (95% CI: 1.01–1.50). Analyses stratified by APOE status (ε4 carriers versus non-carriers), and odor identification ability (high versus low), showed associations only for ε4 carriers, and for low performance on odor identification ability.Conclusion: PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of dementia in this low pollution setting. The associations between PM2.5 and dementia seemed stronger in APOE carriers and those with below average odor identification ability.
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8. |
- Andersson, John, et al.
(author)
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PM2.5 and Dementia in a Low Exposure Setting : The Influence of Odor Identification Ability and APOE
- 2023
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In: Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. - 1387-2877. ; 92:2, s. 679-689
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Growing evidence show that long term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of dementia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between PM2.5 exposure and dementia in a low exposure area, and to investigate the role of olfaction and the APOE ɛ4 allele in these associations. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Betula project, a longitudinal study on aging, memory, and dementia in Sweden. Odor identification ability was assessed using the Scandinavian Odor Identification Test (SOIT). Annual mean PM2.5 concentrations were obtained from a dispersion-model and matched at the participants' residential address. Proportional hazard regression was used to calculate hazard ratios. RESULTS: Of 1,846 participants, 348 developed dementia during the 21-year follow-up period. The average annual mean PM2.5 exposure at baseline was 6.77μg/m3, which is 1.77μg/m3 above the WHO definition of clean air. In a fully adjusted model (adjusted for age, sex, APOE, SOIT, cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, and education) each 1μg/m3 difference in annual mean PM2.5-concentration was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.23 for dementia (95% CI: 1.01-1.50). Analyses stratified by APOE status (ɛ4 carriers versus non-carriers), and odor identification ability (high versus low), showed associations only for ɛ4 carriers, and for low performance on odor identification ability. CONCLUSION: PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of dementia in this low pollution setting. The associations between PM2.5 and dementia seemed stronger in APOE carriers and those with below average odor identification ability.
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9. |
- Andersson, John, et al.
(author)
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Road traffic noise, air pollution, and risk of dementia : results from the Betula project
- 2018
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In: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 166, s. 334-339
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: There is growing evidence for a negative impact of traffic-related air pollution on risk of dementia. However, the contribution of noise exposure to this association has been rarely examined.Objective: We aimed to investigate the individual and combined effect of noise and air pollution on risk of dementia.Methods: Data on dementia incidence over a 15 year period was obtained from the Betula project, a longitudinal study on health and ageing. Estimates of annual mean levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) at the participants’ residential address were obtained using a land-use regression model. Modelled data provided road traffic noise levels (Leq. 24 h) at the participants’ residential address at baseline. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR).Results: Of 1721 participants at baseline, 302 developed dementia during the follow up period. Exposure to noise levels (Leq. 24 h) > 55 dB had no significant effect on dementia risk (HR 0.95; CI: 0.57, 1.57). Residing in the two highest quartiles of NOx exposure was associated with an increased risk of dementia. The risk associated with NOx was not modified by adjusting for noise. Moreover, we found no significant interaction effects between NOx and road traffic noise on dementia risk.Conclusion: We found no evidence that exposure to road traffic noise, either independently or in combination with traffic air pollution, was associated with risk of dementia in our study area. Our results suggest that pollution should be considered the main component in the association between traffic related exposures and dementia.
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10. |
- Balidemaj, Festina, et al.
(author)
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Prenatal Exposure to Locally Emitted Air Pollutants Is Associated with Birth Weight : An Administrative Cohort Study from Southern Sweden
- 2022
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In: Toxics. - : MDPI. - 2305-6304. ; 10:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution has been shown to be associated with reduced birth weight, there is substantial heterogeneity across studies, and few epidemiological studies have utilized source-specific exposure data. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the associations between local, source-specific exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy and birth weight. An administrative cohort comprising 40,245 singleton births from 2000 to 2009 in Scania, Sweden, was combined with data on relevant covariates. Investigated sources of PM2.5 included all local sources together as well as tailpipe exhaust, vehicle wear-and-tear, and small-scale residential heating separately. The relationships between these exposures, rep-resented as interquartile range (IQR) increases, and birth weight (continuous) and low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g) were analyzed in crude and adjusted models. Each local PM2.5 source investigated was associated with reduced birth weight; average decreases varied by source (12–34 g). Only small-scale residential heating was clearly associated with LBW (adjusted odds ratio: 1.14 (95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.26) per IQR increase). These results add to existing evidence that prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution disrupts fetal growth and suggest that PM2.5 from both vehicles and small-scale residential heating may reduce birth weight.
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11. |
- Bjursten, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Once after a full moon : acute type A aortic dissection and lunar phases
- 2022
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In: Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. - : Oxford University Press. - 1569-9293 .- 1569-9285. ; 34:1, s. 105-110
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a rare but severe condition, routinely treated with emergent cardiac surgery. Many surgeons have the notion that patients with ATAAD tend to come in clusters, but no studies have examined these observations. This investigation was undertaken to study the potential association between the lunar cycle and the incidence of ATAAD.METHODS: We collected information on 2995 patients who underwent ATAAD surgery at centres from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection collaboration. We cross-referenced the time of surgery with lunar phase using a case-crossover design with 2 different definitions of full moon (>99% illumination and the 7-day full moon period).RESULTS: The period when the moon was illuminated the most (99% definition) did not show any significant increase in incidence for ATAAD surgery. However, when the full moon period was compared with all other moon phases, it yielded a relative risk of 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.17, P = 0.057] and, compared to waxing moon, only the relative risk was 1.11 (95% CI 1.01-1.23, P = 0.027). The peak incidence came 4-6 days after the moon was fully illuminated.CONCLUSIONS: This study found an overrepresentation of surgery for ATAAD during the full moon phase. The explanation for this is not known, but we speculate that sleep deprivation during full moon leads to a temporary increase in blood pressure, which in turn could trigger rupture of the aortic wall. While this finding is interesting, it needs to be corroborated and the clinical implications are debateable.
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12. |
- Carlsen, Hanne Krage, et al.
(author)
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Ambient Temperature and Associations with Daily Visits to a Psychiatric Emergency Unit in Sweden
- 2019
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In: Int J Environ Res Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1660-4601 .- 1661-7827. ; 16:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- High or low ambient temperatures pose a risk factor for the worsening or onset of psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ambient temperature and psychiatric emergency visits in an urban region in a temperate climate. The daily number of visits to a psychiatric emergency room (PEVs) at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden and the daily mean temperature were extracted for the study period 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2017. Case-crossover analysis with distributed lag non-linear models was used to analyse the data by season. The warm season was defined as May to August and the cold season as November to February. Shorter lags periods were used for the warm season than the cold season. In the analysis, temperatures at the 95th percentile was associated with 14% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2%, 28%) increase in PEVs at lag 0-3 and 22% (95%CI: 6%, 40%) for lags 0-14 during the warm season, relative to the seasonal minimum effect temperature (MET). During the cold season temperatures at the 5th percentile were associated with 25% (95% CI: -8%, 13%) and 18% (95% CI: -30%, 98%) increase in PEVs at lags 0-14 and 0-21 respectively. We observed an increased number of PEVs at high and low temperatures; however, not to a statistically significant extent for low temperatures. Our findings are similar to what has been found for somatic diseases and in studies of other mental health outcomes in regions with more extreme climates. This merits the inclusion of individuals with psychiatric disorders in awareness planning for climate warning systems.
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13. |
- Holmström, Anna, et al.
(author)
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SIMSAM-nätverket i Umeå strävar mot att bli ett framstående center för registerforskning som knyter samman barndomen med livslång hälsa och välfärd
- 2011
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In: SVEPET - Medlemstidning för Svensk Epidemiologisk Förening (SVEP). - Göteborg : Svensk epidemiologisk förening. - 1101-4385. ; 29:3, s. 8-9
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Vetenskapsrådets SIMSAM initiativ syftar till att stärka multidisciplinär registerforskning i Sverige. Inom SIMSAM-nätverket i Umeå arbetar vi tvärvetenskapligt med sikte på att utvecklas till ett center med excellens kring mikrodataforskning som knyter samman barndomen med livslång hälsa och välfärd. Just nu fokuserar vi på att få tillgång till sammanlänkade data från ett flertal nationella och regionala register för att komma vidare med vår planerade forskning. Dessutom har Umeå-nätverket nyligen fått i uppdrag att leda den nationella samordningen av SIMSAM initiativet.
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14. |
- Kriit, Hedi Katre, et al.
(author)
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Annual dementia incidence and monetary burden attributable to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure in Sweden
- 2021
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In: Environmental Health. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1476-069X. ; 20:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias currently represent the fifth most common cause of death in the world, according to the World Health Organization, with a projected future increase as the proportion of the elderly in the population is growing. Air pollution has emerged as a plausible risk factor for AD, but studies estimating dementia cases attributable to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution and resulting monetary estimates are lacking.METHODS: We used data on average population-weighted exposure to ambient PM2.5 for the entire population of Sweden above 30 years of age. To estimate the annual number of dementia cases attributable to air pollution in the Swedish population above 60 years of age, we used the latest concentration response functions (CRF) between PM2.5 exposure and dementia incidence, based on ten longitudinal cohort studies, for the population above 60 years of age. To estimate the monetary burden of attributable cases, we calculated total costs related to dementia, including direct and indirect lifetime costs and intangible costs by including quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost. Two different monetary valuations of QALYs in Sweden were used to estimate the monetary value of reduced quality-of-life from two different payer perspectives.RESULTS: The annual number of dementia cases attributable to PM2.5 exposure was estimated to be 820, which represents 5% of the annual dementia cases in Sweden. Direct and indirect lifetime average cost per dementia case was estimated to correspond € 213,000. A reduction of PM2.5 by 1 μg/m3 was estimated to yield 101 fewer cases of dementia incidences annually, resulting in an estimated monetary benefit ranging up to 0.01% of the Swedish GDP in 2019.CONCLUSION: This study estimated that 5% of annual dementia cases could be attributed to PM2.5 exposure, and that the resulting monetary burden is substantial. These findings suggest the need to consider airborne toxic pollutants associated with dementia incidence in public health policy decisions.
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15. |
- Leander, Mai, et al.
(author)
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Impact of anxiety and depression on respiratory symptoms
- 2014
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In: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 108:11, s. 1594-1600
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Psychological factors such as anxiety and depression are prevalent in patients with asthma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between respiratory symptoms and psychological status and to estimate the importance of psychological status in comparison with other factors that are known to be associated with respiratory symptoms. This study included 2270 subjects aged 20-44 (52% female) from Sweden, Iceland, and Norway. Each participant underwent a clinical interview including questions on respiratory symptoms. Spirometry and methacholine challenge were performed. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Eighty-two percent of the subjects reported no anxiety or depression whatsoever, 11% reported anxiety, 2.5% depression and 4% reported both anxiety and depression. All respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, breathlessness and nightly symptoms, were more common, at a statistically significant level, in participants who had depression and anxiety, even after adjusting for confounders (ORs 1.33-1.94). The HADS score was the most important determinant for nightly symptoms and attacks of breathlessness when at rest whereas bronchial responsiveness was the most important determinant for wheezing, and breathlessness when wheezing. The probability of respiratory symptoms related to HADS score increased with increasing HADS score for all respiratory symptoms. In conclusion, there is a strong association between respiratory symptoms and psychological status. There is therefore a need for interventional studies designed to improve depression and anxiety in patients with respiratory symptoms. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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16. |
- Muhsin, Huda Ahmed, et al.
(author)
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Air pollution and increased number of psychiatric emergency room visits: A case-crossover study for identifying susceptible groups
- 2022
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In: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 204
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Ambient particulate matter is a leading risk factor for disease globally. Particulate matter 10 (PM10) and particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) are derived from different sources, including operating motor vehicles as well as from industrial activities. In this study we investigate the association between increased concentrations of PM and total daily visits to the psychiatric emergency unit (PEV). Further, the aim is to identify specific risk groups who are more susceptible to the effects of air pollution exposure by studying sex, age, ongoing psychiatric follow-up and diagnoses of depression/anxiety or substance use.Material and methods: The sample was comprised of data from 2740 days to 81 548 PEVs at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg and daily mean concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5. A time-stratified case-crossover design was used to analyse associations between air pollution and PEVs.Results: Mean number of daily PEVs were 35 and sex distribution was even. PM exposure was associated with total PEV at lag 0 (the same day), by RR 1.016 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.004–1.028) and RR 1.020 (95%CI 1.003–1.038) per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. In females, PEV were increased at lag 0 and lag 1, and in males at lag 1 and lag 2. In the age-stratified analysis, PEVs significantly increased following PM exposure amongst individuals aged 35–65 years by lag 0–2 and in individuals who had contact with outpatient care at lag 0 to lag 1. There were no associations between air pollution and PEVs for any specific diagnostic group evaluated (amongst depression, anxiety and substance use disorder).Conclusions: The results indicate that acute exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 may trigger acute worsening in mental health in both males and females, especially among 35–65 year old individuals. However, in subgroups of the most common psychiatric diagnoses, we did not observe statistically significant associations with PM exposure.
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17. |
- Nyberg, Lars, 1966-, et al.
(author)
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Biological and environmental predictors of heterogeneity in neurocognitive ageing : Evidence from Betula and other longitudinal studies
- 2020
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In: Ageing Research Reviews. - : Elsevier. - 1568-1637 .- 1872-9649. ; 64
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Individual differences in cognitive performance increase with advancing age, reflecting marked cognitive changes in some individuals along with little or no change in others. Genetic and lifestyle factors are assumed to influence cognitive performance in aging by affecting the magnitude and extent of age-related brain changes (i.e., brain maintenance or atrophy), as well as the ability to recruit compensatory processes. The purpose of this review is to present findings from the Betula study and other longitudinal studies, with a focus on clarifying the role of key biological and environmental factors assumed to underlie individual differences in brain and cognitive aging. We discuss the vital importance of sampling, analytic methods, consideration of non-ignorable dropout, and related issues for valid conclusions on factors that influence healthy neurocognitive aging.
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18. |
- Olstrup, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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The Long-Term Mortality Effects Associated with Exposure to Particles and NOx in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Cohort
- 2023
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In: Toxics. - : MDPI. - 2305-6304. ; 11:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study, the long-term mortality effects associated with exposure to PM10 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than or equal to 10 µm), PM2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than or equal to 2.5 µm), BC (black carbon), and NOx (nitrogen oxides) were analyzed in a cohort in southern Sweden during the period from 1991 to 2016. Participants (those residing in Malmö, Sweden, born between 1923 and 1950) were randomly recruited from 1991 to 1996. At enrollment, 30,438 participants underwent a health screening, which consisted of questionnaires about lifestyle and diet, a clinical examination, and blood sampling. Mortality data were retrieved from the Swedish National Cause of Death Register. The modeled concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, BC, and NOx at the cohort participants’ home addresses were used to assess air pollution exposure. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the associations between long-term exposure to PM10, PM2.5, BC, and NOx and the time until death among the participants during the period from 1991 to 2016. The hazard ratios (HRs) associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in each air pollutant were calculated based on the exposure lag windows of the same year (lag0), 1–5 years (lag1–5), and 6–10 years (lag6–10). Three models were used with varying adjustments for possible confounders including both single-pollutant estimates and two-pollutant estimates. With adjustments for all covariates, the HRs for PM10, PM2.5, BC, and NOx in the single-pollutant models at lag1–5 were 1.06 (95% CI: 1.02–1.11), 1.01 (95% CI: 0.95–1.08), 1.07 (95% CI: 1.04–1.11), and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.07–1.16) per IQR increase, respectively. The HRs, in most cases, decreased with the inclusion of a larger number of covariates in the models. The most robust associations were shown for NOx, with statistically significant positive HRs in all the models. An overall conclusion is that road traffic-related pollutants had a significant association with mortality in the cohort.
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19. |
- Oudin, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Air pollution and dispensed medications for asthma, and possible effect modifiers related to mental health and socio-economy : a longitudinal cohort study of Swedish children and adolescents
- 2017
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In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - Basel : MDPI AG. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 14:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It has been suggested that children that are exposed to a stressful environment at home have an increased susceptibility for air pollution-related asthma. The aim here was to investigate the association between air pollution exposure and asthma, and effect modification by mental health and by socio-economic status (as markers of a stressful environment). All individuals under 18 years of age in four Swedish counties during 2007 to 2010 (1.2 million people) were included. The outcome was defined as dispensing at least two asthma medications during follow up. We linked data on NO₂ from an empirical land use regression to data from national registers on outcome and potential confounders. Data was analyzed with logistic regression. There was an odds ratio (OR) of 1.02 (95% Confidence Interval (CI: 1.01-1.03) for asthma associated with a 10 µg·m(-3) increase in NO₂. The association only seemed to be present in areas where NO₂ was higher than 15 µg·m(-3) with an OR of 1.09 (95% CI: 1.07-1.12), and the association seemed stronger in children with parents with a high education, OR = 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02-1.09) and OR = 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01-1.07) in children to mothers and father with a high education, respectively. The association did not seem to depend on medication history of psychiatric disorders. There was weak evidence for the association between air pollution and asthma to be stronger in neighborhoods with higher education levels. In conclusion, air pollution was associated with dispensed asthma medications, especially in areas with comparatively higher levels of air pollution, and in children to parents with high education. We did not observe support for our hypothesis that stressors linked to socio-economy or mental health problems would increase susceptibility to the effects of air pollution on the development of asthma.
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20. |
- Oudin, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Association between neighbourhood air pollution concentrations and dispensed medication for psychiatric disorders in a large longitudinal cohort of Swedish children and adolescents
- 2016
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 6:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between exposure to air pollution and child and adolescent mental health.DESIGN: Observational study.SETTING: Swedish National Register data on dispensed medications for a broad range of psychiatric disorders, including sedative medications, sleeping pills and antipsychotic medications, together with socioeconomic and demographic data and a national land use regression model for air pollution concentrations for NO2, PM10 and PM2.5.PARTICIPANTS: The entire population under 18 years of age in 4 major counties. We excluded cohort members whose parents had dispensed a medication in the same medication group since the start date of the register. The cohort size was 552 221.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cox proportional hazards models to estimate HRs and their 95% CIs for the outcomes, adjusted for individual-level and group-level characteristics.RESULTS: The average length of follow-up was 3.5 years, with an average number of events per 1000 cohort members of ∼21. The mean annual level of NO2 was 9.8 µg/m(3). Children and adolescents living in areas with higher air pollution concentrations were more likely to have a dispensed medication for a psychiatric disorder during follow-up (HR=1.09, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.12, associated with a 10 µg/m(3) increase in NO2). The association with NO2 was clearly present in 3 out of 4 counties in the study area; however, no statistically significant heterogeneity was detected.CONCLUSION: There may be a link between exposure to air pollution and dispensed medications for certain psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents even at the relatively low levels of air pollution in the study regions. The findings should be corroborated by others.
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21. |
- Oudin, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Impact of national holidays and weekends on incidence of acute type A aortic dissection repair
- 2022
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 12:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Previous studies have demonstrated that environmental and temporal factors may affect the incidence of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Here, we aimed to investigate the hypothesis that national holidays and weekends influence the incidence of surgery for ATAAD. For the period 1st of January 2005 until 31st of December 2019, we investigated a hypothesised effect of (country-specific) national holidays and weekends on the frequency of 2995 surgical repairs for ATAAD at 10 Nordic cities included in the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) collaboration. Compared to other days, the number of ATAAD repairs were 29% (RR 0.71; 95% CI 0.54–0.94) lower on national holidays and 26% (RR 0.74; 95% CI 0.68–0.82) lower on weekends. As day of week patterns of symptom duration were assessed and the primary analyses were adjusted for period of year, our findings suggest that the reduced surgical incidence on national holidays and weekends does not seem to correspond to seasonal effects or surgery being delayed and performed on regular working days.
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22. |
- Oudin, Anna, et al.
(author)
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The association between daily concentrations of air pollution and visits to a psychiatric emergency unit: a case-crossover study
- 2018
-
In: Environmental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-069X. ; 17
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Air pollution is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Experimental studies, and a few epidemiological studies, suggest that air pollution may cause acute exacerbation of psychiatric disorders, and even increase the rate of suicide attempts, but epidemiological studies on air pollution in association with psychiatric disorders are still few. Our aim was to investigate associations between daily fluctuations in air pollution concentrations and the daily number of visits to a psychiatric emergency unit. Methods: Data from Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, on the daily number of visits to the Psychiatric emergency unit were combined with daily data on monitored concentrations of respirable particulate matter(PM10), ozone(O-3), nitrogen dioxides(NO2) and temperature between 1st July 2012 and 31st December 2016. We used a case-crossover design to analyze data with conditional Poisson regression models allowing for over-dispersion. We stratified data on season. Results: Visits increased with increasing PM10 levels during the warmer season (April to September) in both single-pollutant and two-pollutant models. For example, an increase of 3.6% (95% Confidence Interval, CI, 0.4-7.0%) was observed with a 10 mu g/m(3) increase in PM10 adjusted for NO2. In the three-pollutant models (adjusting for NO2 and O-3 simultaneously) the increase was 3.3% (95% CI, -0.2-6.9). There were no clear associations between the outcome and NO2, O-3, or PM10 during the colder season (October to March). Conclusions: Ambient air particle concentrations were associated with the number of visits to the Psychiatric emergency unit in the warm season. The results were only borderline statistically significant in the fully adjusted (three-pollutant) models in this small study. The observation could be interpreted as indicative of air pollution as either exacerbating an underlying psychiatric disorder, or increasing mental distress, even in areas with comparatively low levels of air pollution. In combination with the severe impact of psychiatric disorders and mental distress on society and individuals, our results are a strong warrant for future research in this area.
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23. |
- Oudin Åström, Daniel, et al.
(author)
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Heat wave-related mortality in Sweden : a case-crossover study investigating effect modification by neighbourhood deprivation
- 2020
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : Sage Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 48:4, s. 428-435
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIMS: The present study aimed to investigate if set thresholds in the Swedish heat-wave warning system are valid for all parts of Sweden and if the heat-wave warning system captures a potential increase in all-cause mortality and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality. An additional aim was to investigate whether neighbourhood deprivation modifies the relationship between heat waves and mortality.METHODS: From 1990 until 2014, in 14 municipalities in Sweden, we collected data on daily maximum temperatures and mortality for the five warmest months. Heat waves were defined according to the categories used in the current Swedish heat-wave warning system. Using a case-crossover approach, we investigated the association between heat waves and mortality in Sweden, as well as a modifying effect of neighbourhood deprivation.RESULTS: On a national as well as a regional level, heat waves significantly increased both all-cause mortality and CHD mortality by approximately 10% and 15%, respectively. While neighbourhood deprivation did not seem to modify heat wave-related all-cause mortality, CHD mortality did seem to modify the risk.CONCLUSIONS: It may not be appropriate to assume that heat waves in Sweden will have the same impact in a northern setting as in a southern, or that the impact of heat waves will be the same in affluent and deprived neighbourhoods. When designing and implementing heat-wave warning systems, neighbourhood, regional and national information should be incorporated.
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24. |
- Oudin Åström, Daniel, et al.
(author)
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Local Contrasts in Concentration of Ambient Particulate Air Pollution (PM2.5) and Incidence of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia : Results from the Betula Cohort in Northern Sweden
- 2021
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In: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 81:1, s. 83-85
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is emerging as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but existing studies are still limited and heterogeneous. We have previously studied the association between dementia (AD and vascular dementia) and PM2.5 stemming from vehicle exhaust and wood-smoke in the Betula cohort in Northern Sweden. The aim of this commentary is to estimate the association between total PM2.5 and dementia in the Betula cohort, which is more relevant to include in future meta-estimates than the source-specific estimates. The hazard ratio for incident dementia associated with a 1μg/m3 increase in local PM2.5 was 1.38 (95% confidence interval: 0.99 -1.92). The interpretation of our results is that they indicate an association between local contrasts in concentration of PM2.5 at the residential address and incidence of dementia in a low-level setting.
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25. |
- Oudin Åström, Daniel, et al.
(author)
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Mortality Related to Cold Temperatures in Two Capitals of the Baltics : Tallinn and Riga
- 2019
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In: Medicina. - : MDPI. - 1010-660X .- 1648-9144. ; 55:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and objectives: Despite global warming, the climate in Northern Europe is generally cold, and the large number of deaths due to non-optimal temperatures is likely due to cold temperatures. The aim of the current study is to investigate the association between cold temperatures and all-cause mortality, as well as cause-specific mortality, in Tallinn and Riga in North-Eastern Europe.Materials and Methods: We used daily information on deaths from state death registries and minimum temperatures from November to March over the period 1997-2015 in Tallinn and 2009-2015 in Riga. The relationship between the daily minimum temperature and mortality was investigated using the Poisson regression, combined with a distributed lag non-linear model considering lag times of up to 21 days.Results: We found significantly higher all-cause mortality owing to cold temperatures both in Tallinn (Relative Risk (RR) = 1.28, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.01-1.62) and in Riga (RR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.79). In addition, significantly increased mortality due to cold temperatures was observed in the 75+ age group (RR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.17-2.31) and in cardiovascular mortality (RR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.31-2.55) in Tallinn and in the under 75 age group in Riga (RR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.12-2.22). In this study, we found no statistically significant relationship between mortality due to respiratory or external causes and cold days. The cold-related attributable fraction (AF) was 7.4% (95% CI -3.7-17.5) in Tallinn and 8.3% (95% CI -0.5-16.3) in Riga. This indicates that a relatively large proportion of deaths in cold periods can be related to cold in North-Eastern Europe, where winters are relatively harsh.
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26. |
- Oudin Åström, Daniel, et al.
(author)
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Temperature effects on incidence of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in the Nordics
- 2022
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In: Global health action. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1654-9880 .- 1654-9880 .- 1654-9716. ; 15:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We aimed to investigate a hypothesised association between daily mean temperature and the risk of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). For the period of 1 January 2005 until 31 December 2019, we collected daily data on mean temperatures and date of 2995 operations for ATAAD at 10 Nordic cities included in the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) collaboration. Using a two-stage time-series approach, we investigated the association between hot and cold temperatures relative to the optimal temperature and the rate of ATAAD repair in the selected cities. The relative risks (RRs) of cold temperatures (<=-5 degrees C) and hot temperatures (>= 21 degrees C) compared to optimal temperature were 1.47 (95% CI: 0.72-2.99) and 1.43 (95% CI: 0.67-3.08), respectively. In line with previous studies, we observed increased risk at cold and hot temperatures. However, the observed associations were not statistically significant, thus only providing weak evidence of an association.
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27. |
- Pfeifer, Kerstin, et al.
(author)
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Evaluating Mortality Response Associated with Two Different Nordic Heat Warning Systems in Riga, Latvia
- 2020
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In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 17:21
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and objectives: Progressing climate change is accompanied by a worldwide increase in the intensity, frequency, and duration of heat wave events. Research has shown that heat waves are an emerging public health problem, as they have a significant impact on mortality. As studies exploring this relationship are scarce for Latvia, this study aims to investigate the short-term associations between heat waves and all-cause mortality as well as cause-specific mortality, during the summer months (May-September) in Riga. Materials and Methods: An ecological time series study using daily reported mortality and temperature data from Riga between 2009 and 2015 was employed. Heat waves were defined based on the categories of the Latvian and Swedish heat warning system. Using a Quasi-Poisson regression, the relationships between heat waves and all-cause as well as cause-specific mortality were investigated. Results: Heat waves in Riga were associated with a 10% to 20% increase in the risk of all-cause mortality, depending on the applied heat wave definition, compared to days with normal temperature. In addition, heat-related mortality was found to increase significantly in the ≥65 age group between 12% and 22% during heat waves. In terms of cause-specific mortality, a significant increase of approximately 15% to 26% was observed for cardiovascular mortality. No significant associations were found between heat waves and respiratory or external causes of mortality. Conclusion: These results indicate that there are short-term associations between heat waves and all-cause as well as cardiovascular mortality in Riga and that heat waves therefore represent a public health problem in this Baltic city.
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28. |
- Rask-Andersen, Anna, 1952-, et al.
(author)
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Health-related quality of life as associated with asthma control, psychological status and insomnia
- 2022
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In: Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences. - Uppsala : Upsala Medical Society. - 0300-9734 .- 2000-1967. ; 127
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Asthma is associated not only with lower health-related quality of life (HRQL) but also with psychological health and insomnia. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between HRQL, asthma symptoms, psychological status and insomnia in adults from three Nordic countries.Methods: This study comprised 2,270 subjects aged 29–55 from Sweden, Iceland and Norway. HRQL was measured with the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The physical (PCS) and mental health (MCS) component scores were calculated with higher values, indicating better health status. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Insomnia was assessed with the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire. An asthma score consisting of a sum of the positive answers to five respiratory symptoms was used in the analysis. Spirometry and allergy tests were also performed.Results: High HADS and sleep disturbance scores were both related to a low PCS and MCS, respectively, after adjusting for confounders. High age and high body mass index (BMI) were associated with low scores on the PCS, whilst the opposite was found for the MCS. A higher asthma score was related to a low PCS. An interaction between the HADS and the asthma symptom score was observed for the PCS (P = 0.0002), where associations between psychological status and the PCS were more pronounced for individuals with more symptoms than for individuals without symptoms.Conclusions: In this study, we found that HRQL of life was independently related to the HADS, insomnia and asthma symptoms. Further prospective studies to identify the most efficient target for intervention in order to improve asthma control are needed.
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29. |
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30. |
- Taj, Tahir, et al.
(author)
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Short-Term Associations between Air Pollution Concentrations and Respiratory Health-Comparing Primary Health Care Visits, Hospital Admissions, and Emergency Department Visits in a Multi-Municipality Study
- 2017
-
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 14:6
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Acute effects of air pollution on respiratory health have traditionally been investigated with data on inpatient admissions, emergency room visits, and mortality. In this study, we aim to describe the total acute effects of air pollution on health care use for respiratory symptoms (ICD10-J00-J99). This will be done by investigating primary health care (PHC) visits, inpatient admissions, and emergency room visits together in five municipalities in southern Sweden, using a case-crossover design. Between 2005 and 2010, there were 81,019 visits to primary health care, 38,217 emergency room visits, and 25,271 inpatient admissions for respiratory symptoms in the study area. There was a 1.85% increase (95% CI: 0.52 to 3.20) in the number of primary health care visits associated with a 10 mu g/m(3) increase in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in Malmo, but not in the other municipalities. Air pollution levels were generally not associated with emergency room visits or inpatient admissions, with one exception (in Helsingborg there was a 2.52% increase in emergency room visits for respiratory symptoms associated with a 10 mu g/m(3) increase in PM10). In conclusion, the results give weak support for short-term effects of air pollution on health care use associated with respiratory health symptoms in the study area.
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31. |
- Taj, Tahir, et al.
(author)
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Short-Term Fluctuations in Air Pollution and Asthma in Scania, Sweden : Is the Association Modified by Long-Term Concentrations?
- 2016
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Asthma is one of the most common respiratory diseases in the world. Research has shown that temporal increases in air pollution concentrations can aggravate asthma symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess whether individuals living in areas with higher air pollution concentrations responded differently to short-term temporal exposure to air pollution than those living in lower air pollution areas.METHOD: The study was designed as a case-crossover study in Scania, Sweden. Outcome data was visits to primary health care clinics with asthma as the main complaint during the years 2007 to 2010. Nitrogen dioxide levels were obtained from 21 different air pollution monitoring stations. Short-term exposure was defined as the average concentration four days prior to the visit. Data was pooled for areas above and below a two-year average NO2 concentration of 10 μg/m3, dispersion modelled with an emission database.RESULTS: The short-term association between NO2 and asthma visits seemed stronger in areas with NO2 levels below 10 μg/m3, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.15 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.23) associated with a 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 compared to areas above 10 μg/m3 NO2 levels, where corresponding OR of 1.09 (95% CI: 1.02-1.17). However, this difference was not statistically significant. (p = 0.13).CONCLUSIONS: The study provided some evidence, although not statistically significant, that short-term associations between air pollution and asthma may depend on background air pollution levels. However, we cannot rule out that the association is due to other spatially dependent factors in Scania. The study should be reproduced in other study areas.
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32. |
- Andersen, Zorana J., et al.
(author)
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Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer in 15 European cohorts within the ESCAPE project
- 2017
-
In: Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. - Research triangle park : US department of health. - 0091-6765 .- 1552-9924. ; 125:10
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence on the association between ambient air pollution and breast cancer risk is inconsistent.OBJECTIVE: We examined the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer in European women.METHODS: In 15 cohorts from nine European countries, individual estimates of air pollution levels at the residence were estimated by standardized land-use regression models developed within the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) and Transport related Air Pollution and Health impacts – Integrated Methodologies for Assessing Particulate Matter (TRANSPHORM) projects: particulate matter (PM) ≤2.5μm, ≤10μm, and 2.5–10μm in diameter (PM2.5, PM10, and PMcoarse, respectively); PM2.5 absorbance; nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOx); traffic intensity; and elemental composition of PM. We estimated cohort-specific associations between breast cancer and air pollutants using Cox regression models, adjusting for major lifestyle risk factors, and pooled cohort-specific estimates using random-effects meta-analyses.RESULTS: Of 74,750 postmenopausal women included in the study, 3,612 developed breast cancer during 991,353 person-years of follow-up. We found positive and statistically insignificant associations between breast cancer and PM2.5 {hazard ratio (HR)=1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77, 1.51] per 5 μg/m(3)}, PM10 [1.07 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.30) per 10 μg/m(3)], PMcoarse[1.20 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.49 per 5 μg/m(3)], and NO(2) [1.02 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.07 per 10 μg/m(3)], and a statistically significant association with NOx [1.04 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.08) per 20 μg/m(3), p=0.04].CONCLUSIONS: We found suggestive evidence of an association between ambient air pollution and incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer in European women.
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33. |
- Andersson, John, et al.
(author)
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PM2.5 exposure and olfactory functions
- 2022
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In: International Journal of Environmental Health Research. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 0960-3123 .- 1369-1619. ; 32:11, s. 2484-2495
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Growing evidence indicates that air pollution can negatively impact cognitive functions. The olfactory system is interesting in this context as it is directly exposed to pollutants and also associated with cognitive functions. The aim of this study was to investigate long- and short-term PM2.5 exposure in association with olfactory functions. Scores from odor tests were obtained from the Betula project - a longitudinal cohort study. Estimates of annual mean PM2.5 concentrations at the participants' residential address were obtained from a dispersion-model. Daily mean PM2.5 concentrations were obtained from a measuring station close to the test location. We found a positive association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and odor identification, i.e. exposure was associated with a better ability to identify odors. We also found an interaction effect between PM2.5 and age on odor identification. We found no associations between any PM2.5 exposure and odor detection or between short-term PM2.5 exposure and olfactory functions.
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34. |
- Arvidsson, Inger, et al.
(author)
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Should I Stay or Should I Go? : Associations between Occupational Factors, Signs of Exhaustion, and the Intention to Change Workplace among Swedish Principals
- 2023
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In: Sustainable Healthy Working Life for All Ages. - : MDPI Books. ; , s. 139-158
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- A high turnover among principals may disrupt the continuity of leadership and negativelyaffect teachers and, by extension, the students. The aim was to investigate to what extent variouswork environment factors and signs of exhaustion were associated with reported intentions tochange workplace among principals working in compulsory schools. A web-based questionnaire wasadministered twice, in 2018 and in 2019. Part I of the study involved cross-sectional analyses of theassociations 2018 (n = 984) and 2019 (n = 884) between occupational factors, signs of exhaustion, andthe intention to change workplace, using Generalized Estimating Equations models. Part II involved631 principals who participated in both surveys. The patterns of intended and actual changes ofworkplace across two years were described, together with associated changes of occupational factorsand signs of exhaustion. Supportive management was associated with an intention to stay, whiledemanding role conflicts and the feeling of being squeezed between management and co-workers(buffer-function) were associated with the intention to change workplace. The principals whointended to change their workplace reported more signs of exhaustion. To increase retention amongprincipals, systematic efforts are probably needed at the national, municipal, and local level, in orderto improve their working conditions
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35. |
- Arvidsson, Inger, et al.
(author)
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Should I stay or should I go? Associations between occupational factors, signs of exhaustion and the intention to change workplace among swedish principals
- 2021
-
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 18:10, s. 1-20
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A high turnover among principals may disrupt the continuity of leadership and negatively affect teachers and, by extension, the students. The aim was to investigate to what extent various work environment factors and signs of exhaustion were associated with reported intentions to change workplace among principals working in compulsory schools. A web-based questionnaire was administered twice, in 2018 and in 2019. Part I of the study involved cross-sectional analyses of the associations 2018 (n = 984) and 2019 (n = 884) between occupational factors, signs of exhaustion, and the intention to change workplace, using Generalized Estimating Equations models. Part II involved 631 principals who participated in both surveys. The patterns of intended and actual changes of workplace across two years were described, together with associated changes of occupational factors and signs of exhaustion. Supportive management was associated with an intention to stay, while demanding role conflicts and the feeling of being squeezed between management and co-workers (buffer-function) were associated with the intention to change workplace. The principals who intended to change their workplace reported more signs of exhaustion. To increase retention among principals, systematic efforts are probably needed at the national, municipal, and local level, in order to improve their working conditions.
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36. |
- Arvidsson, Inger, et al.
(author)
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Should I stay or should I go? Associations between occupational factors, signs of exhaustion and the intention to change workplace among swedish principals
- 2021
-
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 18:10, s. 1-20
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A high turnover among principals may disrupt the continuity of leadership and negatively affect teachers and, by extension, the students. The aim was to investigate to what extent various work environment factors and signs of exhaustion were associated with reported intentions to change workplace among principals working in compulsory schools. A web-based questionnaire was administered twice, in 2018 and in 2019. Part I of the study involved cross-sectional analyses of the associations 2018 (n = 984) and 2019 (n = 884) between occupational factors, signs of exhaustion, and the intention to change workplace, using Generalized Estimating Equations models. Part II involved 631 principals who participated in both surveys. The patterns of intended and actual changes of workplace across two years were described, together with associated changes of occupational factors and signs of exhaustion. Supportive management was associated with an intention to stay, while demanding role conflicts and the feeling of being squeezed between management and co-workers (buffer-function) were associated with the intention to change workplace. The principals who intended to change their workplace reported more signs of exhaustion. To increase retention among principals, systematic efforts are probably needed at the national, municipal, and local level, in order to improve their working conditions.
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37. |
- Azzouz, Mehjar, 1999, et al.
(author)
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Air pollution and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and inflammation in the Malmo Diet and Cancer cohort
- 2022
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In: Environmental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-069X. ; 21:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction Air pollution is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly through chronic systemic inflammation that promotes the progression of atherosclerosis and the risk of cardiovascular events. This study aimed to investigate the associations between air pollution and established biomarkers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Methods The Cardiovascular Subcohort of the Malmo Diet and Cancer cohort includes 6103 participants from the general population of Malmo, Sweden. The participants were recruited 1991-1994. Annual mean residential exposure to particulate matter < 2.5 and < 10 mu m (PM2.5 and PM10), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) at year of recruitment were assigned from dispersion models. Blood samples collected at recruitment, including blood cell counts, and biomarkers (lymphocyte- and neutrophil counts, C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)), ceruloplasmin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin, complement-C3, and alpha-1-antitrypsin) were analyzed. Multiple linear regression models were used to investigate the cross-sectional associations between air pollutants and biomarkers. Results The mean annual exposure levels in the cohort were only slightly or moderately above the new WHO guidelines of 5 mu g/m(3) PM2.5 (10.5 mu g/m(3) PM2.5). Residential PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased levels of ceruloplasmin, orosomucoid, C3, alpha-1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, Lp-PLA(2) and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. Ceruloplasmin, orosomucoid, C3 and alpha-1-antitrypsin were also positively associated with PM10. There were no associations between air pollutants and suPAR, leukocyte counts or CRP. The associations between particles and biomarkers were still significant after removing outliers and adjustment for CRP levels. The associations were more prominent in smokers. Conclusion Long-term residential exposure to moderate levels of particulate air pollution was associated with several biomarkers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease. This supports inflammation as a mechanism behind the association between air pollution and cardiovascular disease.
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38. |
- Azzouz, Mehjar, 1999, et al.
(author)
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Long-term ambient air pollution and venous thromboembolism in a population-based Swedish cohort.
- 2023
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In: Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987). - : Elsevier. - 1873-6424 .- 0269-7491. ; 331:Pt 1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Air pollution is a major contributor to the global burden of disease and has been linked to several diseases and conditions, including cardiovascular disease. The biological mechanisms are related to inflammation and increased coagulability, factors that play an important role in the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE, i.e., deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism). This study investigates if long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with increased VTE incidence. The study followed 29408 participants from the Malmö Diet and Cancer (MDC) cohort, which consists of adults aged 44-74 recruited in Malmö, Sweden between 1991 and 1996. For each participant, annual mean residential exposures to particulate matter <2.5μg (PM2.5) and <10μg (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and black carbon (BC) from 1990 up to 2016 were calculated. Associations with VTE were analysed using Cox proportional hazard models for air pollution in the year of the VTE event (lag0) and the mean of the prior 1-10 years (lag1-10). Annual air pollution exposures for the full follow-up period had the following means: 10.8μg/m3 for PM2.5, 15.8μg/m3 for PM10, 27.7μg/m3 for NOx, and 0.96μg/m3 for BC. The mean follow-up period was 19.5 years, with 1418 incident VTE events recorded during this period. Exposure to lag1-10 PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of VTE (HR 1.17 (95%CI 1.01-1.37)) per interquartile range (IQR) of 1.2μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure. No significant associations were found between other pollutants or lag0 PM2.5 and incident VTE. When VTE was divided into specific diagnoses, associations with lag1-10 PM2.5 exposure were similarly positive for deep vein thrombosis but not for pulmonary embolism. Results persisted in sensitivity analyses and in multi-pollutant models. Long-term exposure to moderate concentrations of ambient PM2.5 was associated with increased risks of VTE in the general population in Sweden.
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39. |
- Beelen, Rob, et al.
(author)
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Effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on natural-cause mortality : an analysis of 22 European cohorts within the multicentre ESCAPE project
- 2014
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In: The Lancet. - : Elsevier. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 383:9919, s. 785-795
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Few studies on long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality have been reported from Europe. Within the multicentre European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE), we aimed to investigate the association between natural-cause mortality and long-term exposure to several air pollutants. Methods We used data from 22 European cohort studies, which created a total study population of 367 251 participants. All cohorts were general population samples, although some were restricted to one sex only. With a strictly standardised protocol, we assessed residential exposure to air pollutants as annual average concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with diameters of less than 2.5 mu m (PM2.5), less than 10 mu m (PM10), and between 10 mu m and 2.5 mu m (PMcoarse), PM2.5 absorbance, and annual average concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOx), with land use regression models. We also investigated two traffic intensity variables-traffic intensity on the nearest road (vehicles per day) and total traffic load on all major roads within a 100 m buff er. We did cohort-specific statistical analyses using confounder models with increasing adjustment for confounder variables, and Cox proportional hazards models with a common protocol. We obtained pooled effect estimates through a random-effects meta-analysis. Findings The total study population consisted of 367 251 participants who contributed 5 118 039 person-years at risk (average follow-up 13.9 years), of whom 29 076 died from a natural cause during follow-up. A significantly increased hazard ratio (HR) for PM2.5 of 1.07 (95% CI 1.02-1.13) per 5 mu g/m(3) was recorded. No heterogeneity was noted between individual cohort effect estimates (I-2 p value=0.95). HRs for PM2.5 remained significantly raised even when we included only participants exposed to pollutant concentrations lower than the European annual mean limit value of 25 mu g/m(3) (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.12) or below 20 mu g/m(3) (1.07, 1.01-1.13). Interpretation Long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution was associated with natural-cause mortality, even within concentration ranges well below the present European annual mean limit value.
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40. |
- Beelen, Rob, et al.
(author)
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Long-term Exposure to Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Mortality An Analysis of 22 European Cohorts
- 2014
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In: Epidemiology. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1044-3983 .- 1531-5487. ; 25:3, s. 368-378
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Air pollution has been associated with cardiovascular mortality, but it remains unclear as to whether specific pollutants are related to specific cardiovascular causes of death. Within the multicenter European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE), we investigated the associations of long-term exposure to several air pollutants with all cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, as well as with specific cardiovascular causes of death. Methods: Data from 22 European cohort studies were used. Using a standardized protocol, study area-specific air pollution exposure at the residential address was characterized as annual average concentrations of the following: nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOx); particles with diameters of less than 2.5 mu m (PM2.5), less than 10 mu m (PM10), and 10 mu m to 2.5 mu m (PMcoarse); PM2.5 absorbance estimated by land-use regression models; and traffic indicators. We applied cohort-specific Cox proportional hazards models using a standardized protocol. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to obtain pooled effect estimates. Results: The total study population consisted of 367,383 participants, with 9994 deaths from CVD (including 4,992 from ischemic heart disease, 2264 from myocardial infarction, and 2484 from cerebrovascular disease). All hazard ratios were approximately 1.0, except for particle mass and cerebrovascular disease mortality; for PM2.5, the hazard ratio was 1.21 (95% confidence interval = 0.87-1.69) per 5 mu g/m(3) and for PM10, 1.22 (0.91-1.63) per 10 mu g/m(3). Conclusion: In a joint analysis of data from 22 European cohorts, most hazard ratios for the association of air pollutants with mortality from overall CVD and with specific CVDs were approximately 1.0, with the exception of particulate mass and cerebrovascular disease mortality for which there was suggestive evidence for an association.
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41. |
- Biggar, Robert J, et al.
(author)
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Digoxin use and the risk of breast cancer in women
- 2011
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In: Journal of Clinical Oncology. - : American Society of Clinical Oncology. - 0732-183X .- 1527-7755. ; 29:16, s. 2165-2170
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE Digoxin resembles estrogen chemically and may have estrogenic effect. We hypothesized that digoxin use might increase breast cancer incidence and examined if use might be associated with risk of breast cancer, categorized by estrogen receptor (ER) status. To determine if being under care for heart disease biased the findings, rate ratios in users of angina drugs were similarly evaluated as a control exposure group. PATIENTS AND METHODS Women using digoxin and angina drugs were identified in the nationwide Danish Prescription Database, available between 1995 and 2008. Incident breast cancers were identified in the Danish Cancer Registry and further classifying by ER status. Relative risks (RR) were compared to nonusers using age- and period-adjusted incidence rate ratios. RESULTS Two thousand one hundred forty-four of 104,648 women using digoxin developed breast cancer. Current digoxin users were at increased risk of breast cancer (RR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.32 to 1.46), but risk was not increased in former users (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.00). The increased risks in digoxin users were marginally higher for ER-positive breast cancers (RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.45) and ER unknown breast cancers (RR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.38 to 1.64) than for ER-negative breast cancers (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.40). Among 137,493 women exposed to angina drugs only (a comparison group with cardiovascular disease; n = 2,658 breast cancers), incidence was not increased in current or former users. CONCLUSION Women currently using digoxin had a significantly increased risk of breast cancer. Risk normalized when digoxin was stopped. No risk increases were observed in women using angina drugs only. The higher risk of developing ER-positive breast cancers supports an estrogen-mimicking mechanism.
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42. |
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43. |
- Carlsen, Hanne Krage, et al.
(author)
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Emergency Hospital Visits in Association with Volcanic Ash, Dust Storms and Other Sources of Ambient Particles : A Time-Series Study in Reykjavik, Iceland
- 2015
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In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 12:4, s. 4047-4059
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Volcanic ash contributed significantly to particulate matter (PM) in Iceland following the eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Grímsvötn 2011. This study aimed to investigate the association between different PM sources and emergency hospital visits for cardiorespiratory causes from 2007 to 2012. Indicators of PM10 sources; “volcanic ash”, “dust storms”, or “other sources” (traffic, fireworks, and re-suspension) on days when PM10 exceeded the daily air quality guideline value of 50 µg/m3 were entered into generalized additive models, adjusted for weather, time trend and co-pollutants. The average number of daily emergency hospital visits was 10.5. PM10 exceeded the air quality guideline value 115 out of 2191 days; 20 days due to volcanic ash, 14 due to dust storms (two days had both dust storm and ash contribution) and 83 due to other sources. High PM10 levels from volcanic ash tended to be significantly associated with the emergency hospital visits; estimates ranged from 4.8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.6, 9.2%) per day of exposure in unadjusted models to 7.3% (95% CI: −0.4, 15.5%) in adjusted models. Dust storms were not consistently associated with daily emergency hospital visits and other sources tended to show a negative association. We found some evidence indicating that volcanic ash particles were more harmful than particles from other sources, but the results were inconclusive and should be interpreted with caution.
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44. |
- Carlsen, Hanne Krage, 1981-
(author)
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Health effects of air pollution in Iceland : respiratory health in volcanic environments
- 2014
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Air pollution has adverse effects on human health. The respiratory system is the most exposed and short-term changes in air pollution levels have been associated with worsening of asthma symptoms and increased rates of heart attacks and stroke. Air pollution in cities due to traffic is the major concern, as many people are exposed. However, natural sources of air pollution such as natural dust storms and ash from volcanic eruptions can also compromise human health. Exposure to volcanic eruptions and other natural hazards can also threaten mental health. Air pollution has not been extensively studied in Iceland, in spite of the presence of several natural pollution sources and a sizeable car fleet in the capital area.The aim of this thesis was to determine if there was a measurable effect on health which could be attributed to air pollution in Iceland. This aim was pursued along two paths; time series studies using register data aimed to determine the short-term association between daily variation in air pollution and on one hand daily dispensing of anti-asthma medication or the daily number of emergency room visits and emergency admissions for cardiopulmonary causes and stroke. The other method was to investigate if exposure to the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption was associated with adverse health outcomes, either at the end of the eruption, or 6 months later.In paper I time series regression was used to investigate the association between the daily number of individuals who were dispensed anti-asthma medication and levels of the air pollutants particle matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) during the preceding days. For the study period 2006-9, there were significant associations between the daily mean of PM10 and H2S and the sales of anti-asthma medication 3 to 5 days later. Giving the exposure as the highest daily one-hour mean gave more significant results. Air pollution negatively affected the respiratory health of asthma medication users, prompting them to refill their prescriptions before they had originally intended to.In paper II the main outcome was the number of individuals seeking help at Landspitali University Hospital emergency room for cardiopulmonary disease or stroke. Time series regression was used to identify the lag that gave the best predictive power, and models were run for data for 2003-9 pollutants PM10, NO2, and O3. O3 was significantly associated with the number of emergency hospital visits the same day and two days later in all models, and both for men, women and the elderly. Only emergency hospital visits of the elderly were associated with NO2, and there were no associations with PM10.In paper III the aim was to investigate if the health effects of PM10 were affected by the addition of volcanic ash from the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull and 2011 eruption of Grímsvötn to PM10 in the capital area. Time series regression of emergency hospital visits and PM10 before and after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption showed that the effect tended to be higher after the eruption, but the results were not significant. Analysis with a binary indicator for high levels of PM10 from volcanic ash and other sources showed that volcanic ash was associated with increased emergency hospital visits. There were no associations with high levels of PM10 from other sources.In paper IV, the health of the population exposed to the ongoing eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 was investigated thoroughly. Lung function in adults was better than in a reference group from the capital area, though many reported sensory organ irritation symptoms and symptoms of stress and mental unhealth, especially those with underlying diseases.Paper V report the results from a questionnaire study which was carried out six months after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. The study population comprised a cohort of south Icelanders exposed to the eruption to varying degrees and a reference group from north Iceland. Respiratory and eye symptoms were much more common in south Icelanders than in the reference group, after adjusting for demographic characteristics. Mental unhealth rates had declined considerably.In the studies, we found that urban air pollution and natural particles have short-term effects on anti-asthma medication dispensing and emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Exposure to natural particles in the form of volcanic dust was associated with increased respiratory symptoms in a very exposed population. There were indications that volcanic ash particles were associated with increased emergency hospital visits in the following days.
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45. |
- Carlsen, Hanne Krage, et al.
(author)
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Incident cardiovascular disease and long-term exposure to source-specific air pollutants in a Swedish cohort
- 2022
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In: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 209
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Air pollution is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but its role in the development of congestive heart failure (CHF) and the role of different pollution sources in cardiovascular disease remain uncertain. Methods: Participants were enrolled in the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort in 1991–1996 with information on lifestyle and clinical indicators of cardiovascular disease. The cohort participants were followed through registers until 2016. Annual total and local source-specific concentrations of particulate matter less than 10 μm and 2.5 μm (PM10 and PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from traffic, residential heating, and industry were assigned to each participant's address throughout the study period. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for possible confounders was used to estimate associations between air pollution 1–5 years prior to outcomes of incident CHF, fatal myocardial infarction (MI), major adverse coronary events (MACE), and ischemic stroke. Results: Air pollution exposure levels (mean annual exposures to PM2.5 of 11 μg/m3 and NOx of 26 μg/m3) within the cohort were moderate in terms of environmental standards. After adjusting for confounders, we observed statistically significant associations between NOx and CHF (hazard ratio [HR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.22) and NOx and fatal MI (HR 1.10, 95%CI 1.01–1.20) per interquartile range (IQR) of 9.6 μg/m3. In fully adjusted models, the estimates were similar, but the precision worse. In stratified analyses, the associations were stronger in males, ever-smokers, older participants, and those with baseline carotid artery plaques. Locally emitted and traffic-related air pollutants generally showed positive associations with CHF and fatal MI. There were no associations between air pollution and MACE or stroke. Discussion/conclusion: In an area with low to moderate air pollution exposure, we observed significant associations of long-term residential NOx with increased risk of incident CHF and fatal MI, but not with coronary events and stroke. © 2022
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46. |
- Carlsen, Hanne Krage, et al.
(author)
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Ozone is associated with cardiopulmonary and stroke emergency hospital visits in Reykjavík, Iceland 2003-2009.
- 2013
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In: Environmental health : a global access science source. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1476-069X. ; 12
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Air pollution exposure is associated with hospital admissions and emergency room visits for cardiopulmonary disease and stroke. Iceland's capital area, Reykjavik, has generally low air pollution levels, but traffic and natural sources contribute to pollution levels. The objective of this study was to investigate temporal associations between emergency hospital visits and air pollutants ozone (O-3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM10) in the Icelandic capital area. Methods: We constructed a time series of the daily number of adults who visited the emergency room, or were acutely admitted for stroke or cardiorespiratory causes to Landspitali University Hospital 1 January 2003 - 31 December 2009 from the hospital in-patient register. We used generalized additive models assuming Poisson distribution, to analyze the daily emergency hospital visits as a function of the pollutant levels, and adjusted for meteorological variables, day of week, and time trend with splines. Results: Daily emergency hospital visits increased 3.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-6.1%) per interquartile (IQR) change in average O-3 the same and two previous days. For females, the increase was 7.8% (95% CI 3.6-12.1) for elderly (70+), the increase was 3.9% (95% CI 0.6-7.3%) per IQR increase of NO2. There were no associations with PM10. Conclusions: We found an increase in daily emergency hospital visits associated with O-3, indicating that low-level exposure may trigger cardiopulmonary events or stroke.
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47. |
- Chandra, Mina, et al.
(author)
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Air Pollution and Cognitive Impairment across the Life Course in Humans : A Systematic Review with Specific Focus on Income Level of Study Area
- 2022
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In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 19:3
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cognitive function is a crucial determinant of human capital. The Lancet Commission (2020) has recognized air pollution as a risk factor for dementia. However, the scientific evidence on the impact of air pollution on cognitive outcomes across the life course and across different income settings, with varying levels of air pollution, needs further exploration. A systematic review was conducted, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines to assess the association between air pollution and cognitive outcomes across the life course with a plan to analyze findings as per the income status of the study population. The PubMed search included keywords related to cognition and to pollution (in their titles) to identify studies on human participants published in English until 10 July 2020. The search yielded 84 relevant studies that described associations between exposure to air pollutants and an increased risk of lower cognitive function among children and adolescents, cognitive impairment and decline among adults, and dementia among older adults with supportive evidence of neuroimaging and inflammatory biomarkers. No study from low-and middle-income countries (LMICs)was identified despite high levels of air pollutants and high rates of dementia. To conclude, air pollution may impair cognitive function across the life-course, but a paucity of studies from reLMICs is a major lacuna in research.
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48. |
- de Crom, Tosca O E, et al.
(author)
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Air pollution and the risk of dementia : the Rotterdam study
- 2023
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In: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 91:2, s. 603-613
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Exposure to air pollution has been suggested to increase the risk of dementia, but studies on this link often lack a detailed screening for dementia and data on important confounders.OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of exposure to air pollution with the risk of dementia and cognitive decline in the population-based Rotterdam Study.METHODS: Between 2009 and 2010, we determined air pollutant concentrations at participants residential addresses using land use regression models. Determined air pollutants include particulate matter <10μm (PM10) and <2.5μm (PM2.5), a proxy of elemental carbon (PM2.5 absorbance), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). As the individual air pollutant levels were highly correlated (r = 0.71-0.98), we computed a general marker covering all air pollutants based on a principal component analysis. We followed participants up for dementia until 2018 and determined cognitive performance during two subsequent examination rounds. Using Cox and linear mixed models, we related air pollution to dementia and cognitive decline.RESULTS: Of the 7,511 non-demented participants at baseline, 545 developed dementia during a median follow-up of 7 years. The general marker of all air pollutants was not associated with the risk of dementia (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.04 [0.95-1.15]), neither were the individual air pollutants. Also, the general marker of all air pollutants or the individual air pollutant levels were not associated with cognitive decline.CONCLUSION: In this study, we found no clear evidence for an association between exposure to air pollution and the risk of dementia or cognitive decline.
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49. |
- Dimakopoulou, Konstantina, et al.
(author)
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Air Pollution and Nonmalignant Respiratory Mortality in 16 Cohorts within the ESCAPE Project
- 2014
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In: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. - : American Thoracic Society. - 1073-449X .- 1535-4970. ; 189:6, s. 684-696
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale: Prospective cohort studies have shown that chronic exposure to particulate matter and traffic-related air pollution is associated with reduced survival. However, the effects on nonmalignant respiratory mortality are less studied, and the data reported are less consistent. Objectives: We have investigated the relationship of long-term exposure to air pollution and nonmalignant respiratory mortality in 16 cohorts with individual level data within the multicenter European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE). Methods: Data from 16 ongoing cohort studies from Europe were used. The total number of subjects was 307,553. There were 1,559 respiratory deaths during follow-up. Measurements and Main Results: Air pollution exposure was estimated by land use regression models at the baseline residential addresses of study participants and traffic-proximity variables were derived from geographical databases following a standardized procedure within, the ESCAPE study. Cohort-specific hazard ratios obtained by Cox proportional hazard models from standardized individual cohort analyses were combined using metaanalyses. We found no significant associations between air pollution exposure and nonmalignant respiratory mortality. Most hazard ratios were slightly below unity, with the exception of the traffic-proximity indicators. Conclusions: In this study of 16 cohorts, there was no-association between air pollution exposure and nonmalignant respiratory mortality.
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50. |
- Ekström, Magnus, et al.
(author)
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Breathlessness across generations : results from the RHINESSA generation study
- 2022
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In: Thorax. - : BMJ. - 0040-6376 .- 1468-3296. ; 77:2, s. 172-177
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Breathlessness is a major cause of suffering and disability globally. The symptom relates to multiple factors including asthma and lung function, which are influenced by hereditary factors. No study has evaluated potential inheritance of breathlessness itself across generations.Methods: We analysed the association between breathlessness in parents and their offspring in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia generation study. Data on parents and offspring aged ≥18 years across 10 study centres in seven countries included demographics, self-reported breathlessness, asthma, depression, smoking, physical activity level, measured Body Mass Index and spirometry. Data were analysed using multivariable logistic regression accounting for clustering within centres and between siblings.Results: A total of 1720 parents (mean age at assessment 36 years, 55% mothers) and 2476 offspring (mean 30 years, 55% daughters) were included. Breathlessness was reported by 809 (32.7%) parents and 363 (14.7%) offspring. Factors independently associated with breathlessness in parents and offspring included obesity, current smoking, asthma, depression, lower lung function and female sex. After adjusting for potential confounders, parents with breathlessness were more likely to have offspring with breathlessness, adjusted OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.9). The association was not modified by sex of the parent or offspring.Conclusion: Parents with breathlessness were more likely to have children who developed breathlessness, after adjusting for asthma, lung function, obesity, smoking, depression and female sex in both generations. The hereditary components of breathlessness need to be further explored.
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