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Evidence of a connection between living near major roadway and adverse health outcome has come to light. However, little is known about the effect of residential traffic exposure on aging-related physical disability and whether this effect can be modified. We used data derived from Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Surveys in 2018, with a total of 15,771 participants aged ≥ 65. Residential proximity to major roadway was used as a surrogate for traffic-related air pollution and physical function was measured using basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Logistic regression models were adopted for the analyses. Compared with those living > 300 m from major road, participants living within 200 m had higher risk of poorer physical functioning. The peak odds ratio was observed in severe disability caused by 101–200 m distance (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.66). And this association got stronger with longer duration of living close to major road. In dichotomized analyses using 200 m as a cutoff point, the effect associated with living close to major road was greater in male and current smoker. Specially, poor physical function appears earlier in female, but less severe than that in male. The result emphasizes the adverse effect of residential proximity to major roadways to aging-related declines in health—especially for basic living ability. This association was more pronounced in male and current smokers, which cannot be reversed by lowering the indoor air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To assess the long-term consequences of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among health care workers (HCWs) in China (hereafter surviving HCWs). Methods: A total of 303 surviving HCWs were included. Lung (pulmonary function test, 6-min walk test [6MWT], chest CT), physical (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ], Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale [mMRC], and Borg scale), and psychiatric functions (Essen Trauma Inventory) were evaluated during the 1-year follow-up. Results: Surviving HCWs had an abnormal diffusion capacity 1 year post-discharge. Participants with a reduced carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) comprised 43.48%. The proportion of HCWs with a median 6MWT distance below the lower limit of the normal was 19.4%. An abnormal CT pattern was observed in 37.5% of the HCWs. The SGRQ, mMRC, and Borg scores of surviving HCWs, especially those with critical/severe disease, were significantly higher than those in the normal population. Probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was reported in 21.9% of the surviving HCWs. Diffusion capacity impairment was associated with women. Critical/severe illness and nurses were associated with impaired physical function. Conclusions: Most surviving HCWs, especially female HCWs, still had an abnormal diffusion capacity at 1 year. The physical and psychiatric functions of surviving HCWs were significantly worse than those of the healthy population. Long-term follow-up of pulmonary, physical, and psychiatric functions for surviving HCWs is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]