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The impact of O3 on the respiratory system is a significant global problem. Nevertheless, there is insufficient information about its impact on respiratory disorders in northeast China. In this study, we used a generalized additive model (GAM) to determine the correlation between O3 concentrations and respiratory deaths based on the daily meteorological data, pollutant concentrations, and respiratory deaths from 2014 to 2016 in Shenyang, a typical city in northeast China. Single and cumulative lag structures and seasonal modification were considered to investigate the link between O3 exposure and respiratory mortality in Shenyang, northeast China. Synergic effects of O3 and meteorological factors were also evaluated. Results indicated that there was a significant correlation between O3 and the number of deaths caused by respiratory diseases on a daily basis, regardless of the time delay between exposure and the occurrence of the deaths. A 10 µg/m3 rise in O3 concentration was associated with a 0.85% (95% CI 0.18–1.52%) increase in respiratory death at a lag of 1 day and a 1.43% (95% CI 0.40–2.48%) increase at a cumulative lag of 3 days. Stratified analyses revealed that O3 had a greater impact on health under warm conditions compared to cold settings. Additionally, O3 had a more pronounced effect on females than on males. The results for this study could provide some scientific guidance for local environment and health departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous existing studies reported the negative impacts of outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on respiratory mortality. However, the evidence of related high-risk populations was considerably limited, especially associated with ages, causes of death, and district-level characteristics. In addition, most earlier studies were based on monitored areas, thus previous risk estimates of NO2 could be biased to provide nationwide risk estimates and high-risk populations. Therefore, this study performed a nationwide time-stratified case-crossover study to evaluate the association between short-term ambient NO2 and respiratory mortality in South Korea (2015–2019). A machine learning-ensemble daily NO2 prediction model was used to cover unmonitored areas. To examine high-risk populations, we assessed NO2 risk estimates by age group, sex, cause of mortality, and district-level characteristics. In the total population, NO2 was weakly associated with increased mortality risk due to respiratory disease (OR [odds ratio]: 1.011, 95% CI [confidence interval]: 0.995–1.027), and the association became evident only in individuals aged 80 y or older (1.022, 1.000–1.044), especially related to pneumonia. Further, in people aged 60–69 years, NO2 was marginally associated with mortality for chronic lower respiratory diseases. Lower district-level socioeconomic status and medical services were marginally related to higher respiratory mortality risks related to NO2. The excess respiratory mortality fractions and YLL (year of life lost) attributable to NO2 were 4.13% and 93,851.63 years, and around 70% of the excess deaths were due to noncompliance with the World Health Organization air quality guidelines (daily average NO2 > 25 µg/m3). This study provides evidence for high-risk populations and the appropriateness of target-specific action plans against NO2. In addition, based on the excess death estimates, we suggest stricter NO2 standards are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Outdoor fine particulate air pollution (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ⩽2.5 μm; PM2.5) contributes to millions of deaths around the world each year, but much less is known about the long-term health impacts of other particulate air pollutants, including ultrafine particles (a.k.a. nanoparticles), which are in the nanometer-size range (<100 nm), widespread in urban environments, and not currently regulated. Objectives: We sought to estimate the associations between long-term exposure to outdoor ultrafine particles and mortality. Methods: Outdoor air pollution levels were linked to the residential addresses of a large, population-based cohort from 2001 to 2016. Associations between long-term exposure to outdoor ultrafine particles and nonaccidental and cause-specific mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Measurements and Main Results: An increase in long-term exposure to outdoor ultrafine particles was associated with an increased risk of nonaccidental mortality (hazard ratio = 1.073; 95% confidence interval = 1.061–1.085) and cause-specific mortality, the strongest of which was respiratory mortality (hazard ratio = 1.174; 95% confidence interval = 1.130–1.220). We estimated the mortality burden for outdoor ultrafine particles in Montreal and Toronto, Canada, to be approximately 1,100 additional nonaccidental deaths every year. Furthermore, we observed possible confounding by particle size, which suggests that previous studies may have underestimated or missed important health risks associated with ultrafine particles. Conclusions: As outdoor ultrafine particles are not currently regulated, there is great potential for future regulatory interventions to improve population health by targeting these common outdoor air pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Levels of plant-based aeroallergens are rising as growing seasons lengthen and intensify with anthropogenic climate change. Increased exposure to pollens could increase risk for mortality from respiratory causes, particularly among older adults. We determined short-term, lag associations of four species classes of pollen (ragweed, deciduous trees, grass pollen and evergreen trees) with respiratory mortality (all cause, chronic and infectious related) in Michigan, USA. Methods We obtained records for all Michigan deaths from 2006-2017 from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Deaths from infectious and chronic respiratory-related causes were selected using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes. Pollen data were obtained from a prognostic model of daily pollen concentrations at 25 km resolution. Case-crossover models with distributed lag non-linear crossbases for pollen were used to estimate associations between lags of daily pollen concentrations with mortality and to explore effect modification by sex and racial groups. Results 127,163 deaths were included in the study. Cumulative daily high concentrations (90th percentile) of deciduous broadleaf, grass and ragweed were associated with all-cause respiratory mortality at early lags with e.g., a 1.81 times higher risk of all respiratory deaths at cumulative 7 day lag exposure to deciduous broadleaf pollen at the 90th percentile (95% confidence interval: 1.04, 3.15). Exposure to high concentrations of grass and ragweed pollens was associated with increased risk for death from chronic respiratory causes. No association was found for any pollen species with death from infectious respiratory causes though there was a positive but non-significant association of exposure to deciduous broadleaf and ragweed pollens. We found no evidence to suggest effect modification by race or sex. Conclusions Modelled exposures to high concentrations of pollen taxa were associated with increased all-cause and chronic respiratory mortality among older adults. Results suggest that pollen exposure may become more important to respiratory mortality as the temperatures increase and pollen seasons lengthen.

Rationale: Body mass index (BMI) is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The effect of genetic variants aggregated into a polygenic score may elucidate the causal mechanisms and predict risk. Objectives: To examine the associations of genetically predicted BMI with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in COPD. Methods: We developed a polygenic score (PGS) for BMI (PGSBMI) and tested for associations of the PGSBMI with all-cause, respiratory, and cardiovascular mortality in participants with COPD from the COPDGene (Genetic Epidemiology of COPD), ECLIPSE (Evaluation of COPD Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate End-points), and Framingham Heart studies. We calculated the difference between measured BMI and PGS-predicted BMI (BMIdiff) and categorized participants into groups of discordantly low (BMIdiff <20th percentile), concordant (BMIdiff between the 20th and 80th percentiles), and discordantly high (BMIdiff >80th percentile) BMI. We applied Cox models, examined potential nonlinear associations of the PGSBMI and BMIdiff with mortality, and summarized results with meta-analysis. Measurements and Main Results: We observed significant nonlinear associations of measured BMI and BMIdiff, but not PGSBMI, with all-cause mortality. In meta-analyses, a one–standard deviation increase in the PGSBMI was associated with an increased hazard for cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.49), but not for respiratory or all-cause mortality. Compared with participants with concordant measured and genetically predicted BMI, those with discordantly low BMI had higher risks for all-cause mortality (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.41–1.74) and respiratory death (HR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.61–2.51). Conclusions: In people with COPD, a higher genetically predicted BMI is associated with higher cardiovascular mortality but not respiratory mortality. Individuals with a discordantly low BMI have higher all-cause and respiratory mortality rates than those with a concordant BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a major cause of specific deaths worldwide. This review article aimed to investigate the results of cohort studies for air pollution connected with the all-cause, cardio-respiratory, and lung cancer mortality risk by performing a meta-analysis. Relevant cohort studies were searched in electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus). We used a random effect model to estimate the pooled relative risks (RRs) and their 95% CIs (confidence intervals) of mortality. The risk of bias for each included study was also assessed by Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) checklists. We applied statistical tests for heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses. The registration code of this study in PROSPERO was CRD42023422945. A total of 88 cohort studies were eligible and included in the final analysis. The pooled relative risk (RR) per 10 μg/m3 increase of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was 1.080 (95% CI 1.068–1.092) for all-cause mortality, 1.058 (95% CI 1.055–1.062) for cardiovascular mortality, 1.066 (95%CI 1.034–1.097) for respiratory mortality and 1.118 (95% CI 1.076–1.159) for lung cancer mortality. We observed positive increased associations between exposure to PM2.5, PM10, black carbon (BC), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) with all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and lung cancer mortality, but the associations were not significant for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3). The risk of mortality for males and the elderly was higher compared to females and younger age. The pooled effect estimates derived from cohort studies provide substantial evidence of adverse air pollution associations with all-cause, cardiovascular, respiratory, and lung cancer mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While ambient formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations are increasing worldwide, there was limited research on its health effects. Objectives: To assess the association of long-term exposure to ambient HCHO with the risk of respiratory (RESP) mortality and the associated mortality burden in China. Methods: Annual and seasonal RESP death and tropospheric HCHO vertical columns data were collected in 466 counties/districts across China during 2013–2016. A difference-in-differences approach combined with a generalized linear mixed-effects regression model was employed to assess the exposure-response association between long-term ambient HCHO exposure and RESP mortality risk. Additionally, we computed the attributable fraction (AF) to gauge the proportion of RESP mortality attributable to HCHO exposure. Results: This analysis encompassed 560,929 RESP deaths. The annual mean ambient HCHO concentration across selected counties/districts was 8.02×1015 ± 2.22×1015 molec.cm−2 during 2013–2016. Each 1.00×1015 molec.cm−2 increase in ambient HCHO was associated with a 1.61 % increase [excess risk (ER), 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.20 %, 2.03 %] in the RESP mortality risk. The AF of RESP mortality attributable to HCHO was 12.16 % (95 %CI:9.33 %, 14.88 %), resulting in an annual average of 125,422 (95 %CI:96,404, 153,410) attributable deaths in China. Stratified analyses suggested stronger associations in individuals aged ≥65 years old (ER=1.87 %, 95 %CI:1.43 %, 2.32 %), in cold seasons (ER=1.00 %, 95 %CI:0.56 %, 1.44 %), in urban areas (ER=1.65 %, 95 %CI:1.15 %, 2.16 %), and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (ER=1.95 %, 95 %CI:1.42 %, 2.48 %). Conclusions: This study suggested that long-term HCHO exposure may significantly increase the risk of RESP mortality, leading to a substantial mortality burden. Targeted measures should be implemented to control ambient HCHO pollution promptly.

Background: In the context of climate change and urbanization, the temporal variation of the adverse health effect of extreme temperature has attracted increasing attention. Methods: The meteorological data and the daily death records of mortality from respiratory diseases of 136 Chinese cities were from 2006 to 2019. Heat wave and cold spell were selected as the indicator events of extreme high temperature and extreme low temperature, respectively. The generalized linear model and time-varying distributed lag model were used to perform a two-stage time-series analysis to evaluate the temporal variation of the mortality risk associated with extreme temperature in the total population, sub-populations (sex- and age- specific) and different regions (climatic zone and relative humidity level). Results: During the study period, relative risk (RR) of respiratory mortality associated with heat wave decreased from 1.22 (95 %CI: 1.07–1.39) to 1.13 (95 %CI: 1.01–1.26) in the total population, and RR of respiratory mortality associated with cold spell decreased from 1.30 (95 %CI: 1.14–1.49) to 1.17 (95 %CI: 1.08–1.26). The impact of heat wave reduced in the males (P = 0.044) and in the females as with cold spell (P

Background: Although the health impacts of ambient ozone (O3) have been widely assessed, studies simultaneously investigating the acute and chronic effects of O3 on mortality from respiratory diseases (RESP) are scarce. Methods: We extracted personal information of all recorded deaths from RESP throughout 2013–2018 in six provinces in China. The daily, seasonal, and annual mean air pollutant concentrations at the township/subdistrict level were estimated by a random forest model. The acute association between the maximum daily average 8h ozone (MDA8 O3) and RESP mortality was examined by a time-stratified case-crossover study design, and the chronic association was estimated by a difference-in-differences (DID) analysis approach. We also calculated the attributable fraction (AF) of RESP mortality attributable to MDA8 O3. Results: There were 1,034,226 RESP deaths included in this study. The excess risks (ERs) of overall RESP mortality for each 10 μg/m3 increase in short-term (lag03 days) and long-term (one-year average) exposure to MDA8 O3 were 0.38 % (95%CI: 0.26 %, 0.50 %) and 4.37 % (3.91 %, 4.84 %), respectively. The AFs of overall RESP mortality ascribed to short- and long-term MDA8 O3 exposures were 3.00 % (2.03 %, 3.95 %) and 29.45 % (26.86 %, 31.95 %), respectively. The average annual number of RESP deaths attributable to short-term MDA8 O3 exposure was 30,790 and 302,254 were attributable to long-term MDA8 O3 exposure across China during 2013–2018. Conclusion: Both short- and long-term exposure to ambient MDA8 O3 were positively associated with RESP mortality, and long-term exposure to MDA8 O3 may lead to a greater RESP mortality burden than short-term exposure to MDA8 O3.

Background: In China, the increasing concentration of ozone (O3) has emerged as a significant air pollution issue, leading to adverse effects on public health, particularly the respiratory system. Despite the progress made in managing air pollution in China, it is crucial to address the problem of environmental O3 pollution at present. Methods: The connection between O3 exposure and respiratory mortality in Shenyang, China, from 2014 to 2018 was analyzed by a time-series generalized additive regression model (GAM) with quasi-Poisson regression. Additionally, the potential combined effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and O3 were investigated using the synergy index (SI). Results: Our findings indicate that each 10 μg/m3 increase in O3 at lag 2 days was associated with a maximum relative risk (RR) of 1.0150 (95% CI: 1.0098–1.0202) for respiratory mortality in the total population. For individuals aged ≥55 years, unmarried individuals, those engaged in indoor occupations, and those with low educational attainment, each 10 μg/m3 increase in O3 at lag 07 days was linked to RR values of 1.0301 (95% CI: 1.0187–1.0417), 1.0437 (95% CI: 1.0266–1.0610), 1.0317 (95% CI: 1.0186–1.0450), and 1.0346 (95% CI: 1.0222–1.0471), respectively. Importantly, we discovered a synergistic effect of PM2.5 and O3, resulting in an SI of 2.372 on the occurrence of respiratory mortality. Conclusions: This study confirmed a positive association between O3 exposure and respiratory mortality. Furthermore, it highlighted the interaction between O3 and PM2.5 in exacerbating respiratory deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The effect of ambient temperature on respiratory mortality has been consistently observed throughout the world under different climate change scenarios. Countries experiencing greater inter–annual variability in winter temperatures (and may not be lowest winter temperatures) have greater excess winter mortality compared to countries with colder winters. This study investigates the association between temperature and respiratory deaths in Malta which has one of the highest population densities in the world with a climate that is very hot in summer and mild in winter. Methods Daily number of respiratory deaths (7679 deaths) and meteorological data (daily average temperature, daily average humidity) were obtained from January 1992 to December 2017. The hot and cold effects were estimated at different temperatures using distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM) with a Poisson distribution, controlling for time trend, relative humidity and holidays. The reference temperature (MMT) for the minimum response-exposure relationship was estimated and the harvesting effects of daily temperature (0–27 lag days) were investigated for daily respiratory mortality. Effects were also explored for different age groups, gender and time periods. Results Cooler temperatures (8–15 °C) were significantly related to higher respiratory mortality. At 8.9 °C (1st percentile), the overall effect of daily mean temperature was related to respiratory deaths (RR 2.24, 95%CI 1.10–4.54). These effects were also found for males (95%CI 1.06–7.77) and males across different age groups (Males Over 65 years: RR 4.85, 95%CI 2.02–11.63 vs Males between 16 and 64 years: RR 5.00, 95%CI 2.08–12.03) but not for females. Interestingly, colder temperatures were related to respiratory deaths in the earliest time period (1992–2000), however, no strong cold effect was observed for later periods (2000–2017). In contrast, no heat effect was observed during the study period and across other groups. Conclusions The higher risk for cold-related respiratory mortality observed in this study could be due to greater inter-annual variability in winter temperatures which needs further exploration after adjusting for potential physical and socio-demographic attributes. The study provides useful evidence for policymakers to improve local warning systems, adaptation, and intervention strategies to reduce the impact of cold temperatures.

Rationale: Exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with adverse effects on morbidity and mortality. However, the evidence for ultrafine particles (UFPs; 10–100 nm) based on epidemiological studies remains scarce and inconsistent. Objectives: We examined associations between short-term exposures to UFPs and total particle number concentrations (PNCs; 10–800 nm) and cause-specific mortality in three German cities: Dresden, Leipzig, and Augsburg. Methods: We obtained daily counts of natural, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality between 2010 and 2017. UFPs and PNCs were measured at six sites, and measurements of fine particulate matter (PM2.5; ⩽2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter) and nitrogen dioxide were collected from routine monitoring. We applied station-specific confounder-adjusted Poisson regression models. We investigated air pollutant effects at aggregated lags (0–1, 2–4, 5–7, and 0–7 d after UFP exposure) and used a novel multilevel meta-analytical method to pool the results. Additionally, we assessed interdependencies between pollutants using two-pollutant models. Measurements and Main Results: For respiratory mortality, we found a delayed increase in relative risk of 4.46% (95% confidence interval, 1.52 to 7.48%) per 3,223-particles/cm3 increment 5–7 days after UFP exposure. Effects for PNCs showed smaller but comparable estimates consistent with the observation that the smallest UFP fractions showed the largest effects. No clear associations were found for cardiovascular or natural mortality. UFP effects were independent of PM2.5 in two-pollutant models. Conclusions: We found delayed effects for respiratory mortality within 1 week after exposure to UFPs and PNCs but no associations for natural or cardiovascular mortality. This finding adds to the evidence on the independent health effects of UFPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence on the potential interactive effects of heat and ambient air pollution on cause-specific mortality is inconclusive and limited to selected locations. Objectives: We investigated the effects of heat on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality and its modification by air pollution during summer months (six consecutive hottest months) in 482 locations across 24 countries. Methods: Location-specific daily death counts and exposure data (e.g., particulate matter with diameters ≤ 2.5 µm [PM2.5]) were obtained from 2000 to 2018. We used location-specific confounder-adjusted Quasi-Poisson regression with a tensor product between air temperature and the air pollutant. We extracted heat effects at low, medium, and high levels of pollutants, defined as the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile of the location-specific pollutant concentrations. Country-specific and overall estimates were derived using a random-effects multilevel meta-analytical model. Results: Heat was associated with increased cardiorespiratory mortality. Moreover, the heat effects were modified by elevated levels of all air pollutants in most locations, with stronger effects for respiratory than cardiovascular mortality. For example, the percent increase in respiratory mortality per increase in the 2-day average summer temperature from the 75th to the 99th percentile was 7.7% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 7.6–7.7), 11.3% (95%CI 11.2–11.3), and 14.3% (95% CI 14.1–14.5) at low, medium, and high levels of PM2.5, respectively. Similarly, cardiovascular mortality increased by 1.6 (95%CI 1.5–1.6), 5.1 (95%CI 5.1–5.2), and 8.7 (95%CI 8.7–8.8) at low, medium, and high levels of O3, respectively. Discussion: We observed considerable modification of the heat effects on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality by elevated levels of air pollutants. Therefore, mitigation measures following the new WHO Air Quality Guidelines are crucial to enhance better health and promote sustainable development.

This study examines the impact of temporary school closures on influenza transmission and respiratory mortality, leveraging a natural experiment from winter break timings in Polish schools. Using causal inference methods on 12 years of ILI (Influenza-Like Illness) data and two decades of respiratory death records, the analysis shows significant reductions in ILI incidence within four weeks post-closures in an average season: 75% among school-aged children, 55% in adults, 26% in pre-school children, and 31% in the elderly, compared to pre-vacation averages. Notably, a 7% decrease in respiratory mortality was observed among the elderly, highlighting school closures as an effective public health intervention for reducing influenza spread and mortality among high-risk groups., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Excess mortality studies provide crucial information regarding the health burden of pandemics and other large-scale events. Here, we use time series approaches to separate the direct contribution of SARS-CoV-2 infection on mortality from the indirect consequences of the pandemic in the United States. We estimate excess deaths occurring above a seasonal baseline from March 1, 2020 to January 1, 2022, stratified by week, state, age, and underlying mortality condition (including COVID-19 and respiratory diseases; Alzheimer’s disease; cancer; cerebrovascular diseases; diabetes; heart diseases; and external causes, which include suicides, opioid overdoses, and accidents). Over the study period, we estimate an excess of 1,065,200 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 909,800–1,218,000) all-cause deaths, of which 80% are reflected in official COVID-19 statistics. State-specific excess death estimates are highly correlated with SARS-CoV-2 serology, lending support to our approach. Mortality from 7 of the 8 studied conditions rose during the pandemic, with the exception of cancer. To separate the direct mortality consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection from the indirect effects of the pandemic, we fit generalized additive models (GAM) to age- state- and cause-specific weekly excess mortality, using covariates representing direct (COVID-19 intensity) and indirect pandemic effects (hospital intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy and measures of interventions stringency). We find that 84% (95% CI 65–94%) of all-cause excess mortality can be statistically attributed to the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also estimate a large direct contribution of SARS-CoV-2 infection (≥67%) on mortality from diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart diseases, and in all-cause mortality among individuals over 65 years. In contrast, indirect effects predominate in mortality from external causes and all-cause mortality among individuals under 44 years, with periods of stricter interventions associated with greater rises in mortality. Overall, on a national scale, the largest consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are attributable to the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections; yet, the secondary impacts dominate among younger age groups and in mortality from external causes. Further research on the drivers of indirect mortality is warranted as more detailed mortality data from this pandemic becomes available.

Background: In China, the increasing concentration of ozone (O3) has emerged as a significant air pollution issue, leading to adverse effects on public health, particularly the respiratory system. Despite the progress made in managing air pollution in China, it is crucial to address the problem of environmental O3 pollution at present. Methods: The connection between O3 exposure and respiratory mortality in Shenyang, China, from 2014 to 2018 was analyzed by a time-series generalized additive regression model (GAM) with quasi-Poisson regression. Additionally, the potential combined effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and O3 were investigated using the synergy index (SI). Results: Our findings indicate that each 10 μg/m3 increase in O3 at lag 2 days was associated with a maximum relative risk (RR) of 1.0150 (95% CI: 1.0098–1.0202) for respiratory mortality in the total population. For individuals aged ≥55 years, unmarried individuals, those engaged in indoor occupations, and those with low educational attainment, each 10 μg/m3 increase in O3 at lag 07 days was linked to RR values of 1.0301 (95% CI: 1.0187–1.0417), 1.0437 (95% CI: 1.0266–1.0610), 1.0317 (95% CI: 1.0186–1.0450), and 1.0346 (95% CI: 1.0222–1.0471), respectively. Importantly, we discovered a synergistic effect of PM2.5 and O3, resulting in an SI of 2.372 on the occurrence of respiratory mortality. Conclusions: This study confirmed a positive association between O3 exposure and respiratory mortality. Furthermore, it highlighted the interaction between O3 and PM2.5 in exacerbating respiratory deaths.

Background: The effect of ambient temperature on respiratory mortality has been consistently observed throughout the world under different climate change scenarios. Countries experiencing greater inter-annual variability in winter temperatures (and may not be lowest winter temperatures) have greater excess winter mortality compared to countries with colder winters. This study investigates the association between temperature and respiratory deaths in Malta which has one of the highest population densities in the world with a climate that is very hot in summer and mild in winter.Methods: Daily number of respiratory deaths (7679 deaths) and meteorological data (daily average temperature, daily average humidity) were obtained from January 1992 to December 2017. The hot and cold effects were estimated at different temperatures using distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM) with a Poisson distribution, controlling for time trend, relative humidity and holidays. The reference temperature (MMT) for the minimum response-exposure relationship was estimated and the harvesting effects of daily temperature (0-27 lag days) were investigated for daily respiratory mortality. Effects were also explored for different age groups, gender and time periods.Results: Cooler temperatures (8-15 °C) were significantly related to higher respiratory mortality. At 8.9 °C (1st percentile), the overall effect of daily mean temperature was related to respiratory deaths (RR 2.24, 95%CI 1.10-4.54). These effects were also found for males (95%CI 1.06-7.77) and males across different age groups (Males Over 65 years: RR 4.85, 95%CI 2.02-11.63 vs Males between 16 and 64 years: RR 5.00, 95%CI 2.08-12.03) but not for females. Interestingly, colder temperatures were related to respiratory deaths in the earliest time period (1992-2000), however, no strong cold effect was observed for later periods (2000-2017). In contrast, no heat effect was observed during the study period and across other groups.Conclusions: The higher risk for cold-related respiratory mortality observed in this study could be due to greater inter-annual variability in winter temperatures which needs further exploration after adjusting for potential physical and socio-demographic attributes. The study provides useful evidence for policymakers to improve local warning systems, adaptation, and intervention strategies to reduce the impact of cold temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While ambient formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations are increasing worldwide, there was limited research on its health effects. To assess the association of long-term exposure to ambient HCHO with the risk of respiratory (RESP) mortality and the associated mortality burden in China. Annual and seasonal RESP death and tropospheric HCHO vertical columns data were collected in 466 counties/districts across China during 2013–2016. A difference-in-differences approach combined with a generalized linear mixed-effects regression model was employed to assess the exposure-response association between long-term ambient HCHO exposure and RESP mortality risk. Additionally, we computed the attributable fraction (AF) to gauge the proportion of RESP mortality attributable to HCHO exposure. This analysis encompassed 560,929 RESP deaths. The annual mean ambient HCHO concentration across selected counties/districts was 8.02×1015 ± 2.22×1015 molec.cm−2 during 2013–2016. Each 1.00×1015 molec.cm−2 increase in ambient HCHO was associated with a 1.61 % increase [excess risk (ER), 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.20 %, 2.03 %] in the RESP mortality risk. The AF of RESP mortality attributable to HCHO was 12.16 % (95 %CI:9.33 %, 14.88 %), resulting in an annual average of 125,422 (95 %CI:96,404, 153,410) attributable deaths in China. Stratified analyses suggested stronger associations in individuals aged ≥65 years old (ER=1.87 %, 95 %CI:1.43 %, 2.32 %), in cold seasons (ER=1.00 %, 95 %CI:0.56 %, 1.44 %), in urban areas (ER=1.65 %, 95 %CI:1.15 %, 2.16 %), and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (ER=1.95 %, 95 %CI:1.42 %, 2.48 %). This study suggested that long-term HCHO exposure may significantly increase the risk of RESP mortality, leading to a substantial mortality burden. Targeted measures should be implemented to control ambient HCHO pollution promptly. • First study to find the effect of long-term ambient HCHO exposure on respiratory death • The respiratory death burden from ambient HCHO exposure varies widely by region • Measures should be taken to protect the populations vulnerable to HCHO exposure [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is a growing interest in the association between ambient temperatures and mortality, little evidence is available for Thessaloniki, the second largest city of Greece. In this study, we present an assessment of the effects of temperature on daily mortality from 2006 to 2016 in the urban area of Thessaloniki, by describing the exposure-lag-response association between temperature and cause-specific mortality with the use of a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM). A J-shaped relationship was found between temperature and mortality. The highest values of risk were evident for respiratory (RR > 10) and cardiovascular causes (RR > 3), probably due to the fact that health status of individuals with chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases rapidly deteriorates during hot periods. Cold effects had longer lags of up to 15 days, whereas heat effects were short-lived, up to 4 days. Percentage change in all- and cause-specific mortality per 1 °C change above and below Minimum Mortality Temperature showed a larger increase for all-cause mortality in heat (1.95%, 95% CI: 1.07–2.84), in contrast to a smaller increase in cold (0.54%, 95% CI: 0, 1.09). Overall, 3.51% of all-cause deaths were attributable to temperature, whereas deaths attributed to heat (2.34%) were more than deaths attributed to cold (1.34%). The findings of this study present important evidence for planning public-health interventions, to reduce the health impact of extreme temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Environmental pollution is a worldwide problem that has a negative impact on respiratory health. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is one of the most harmful pollutants for the respiratory system. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between exposure to PM2.5 concentrations and respiratory mortality. Methods: 8,825 daily respiratory mortality data were collected from the National population death information registration management system in Changsha from January 2015 to December 2018. Daily measurements of environmental pollutants were obtained from 10 environmental monitoring stations. Results: There is a significant association between PM2.5 concentrations and the risk of respiratory mortality. The increase in mortality occurs both in acute exposure to PM2.5 and in its accumulated exposure. Due to the increase in PM2.5 levels, the cold season increases the risk of respiratory pathology. Conclusion: There is an increase in respiratory disease morbidity and mortality secondary to PM2.5 exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveMost evidence comes from studies show that ambient ozone(O3) pollution has become a big issue in China. Few studies have investigated the impact of ozone spatiotemporal patterns on respiratory mortality and cardiovascular mortality in Nanchang city. Thus, this study aimed to explore the health effect of ozone exposure on respiratory mortality and cardiovascular mortality in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province.MethodsUsing the daily mortality data, atmospheric routine monitoring data and meteorological data in Nanchang from 2014 to 2020, we performed a generalized additive model (GAM) based on the poisson distribution in which time-series analysis to calculate the risk correlation between respiratory mortality and cardiovascular mortality and ozone exposure level (8h average ozone concentration, O3-8h). Besides, analyses were also stratified by season, age and sex.ResultsIn the single-pollutant model, for every 10 μg/m3 increase in ozone, respiratory mortality increased 1.04% with 95% confidence interval (CI) between 0.04 and 1.68%, and cardiovascular mortality increased 1.26% (95%CI: 0.68 ~ 1.83%). In the multi-day moving average lag model, the mortality of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases reached a relative risk peak on the cumulative lag5 (1.77%,95%CI: 0.99 ~ 2.57%) and the cumulative lag3 (1.68%,95%CI: 0.93 ~ 2.45%), respectively. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Results of the stratified analyses showed the effect value of respiratory mortality in people aged ≥65 years was higher than aged

Air pollution has emerged as a major global concern in recent decades as a result of rapid urbanization and industrialization, leading to a variety of adverse health outcomes. This research aims to investigate the influence of exposure to ambient and household particulate matter pollution (PM2.5), and ground-level ozone (O3) pollution on respiratory and cardiac mortality in Pakistan. We used grey incidence analysis (GIA) methodology to estimate the degree of proximity among selected variables and rank them based on mortality. Hurwicz's criterion is then adopted for further optimization by prioritizing the selected factors with the greatest influence on respiratory and cardiac mortality. The GIA findings revealed that asthma mortality is considerably impacted by exposure to ambient and household PM2.5 concentration while ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality is potentially influenced by ground-level ozone exposure. Furthermore, results based on Hurwicz's analysis demonstrated that exposure to ambient PM2.5 concentration appeared as the most intensified factor of respiratory and cardiac mortality. This corroboration adds to the growing body of research demonstrating that exposure to ambient PM2.5 adversely leads to respiratory and cardiac risks, emphasizing the demand for further improvement of air quality in Pakistan. Besides, the suggested methodologies provide a valuable tool and additional practical knowledge for policymakers and decision-makers in drawing rational decisions.

The European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates that seasonal influenza causes 4–50 million symptomatic infections in the EU/EEA each year and 15,000–70,000 European citizens die of causes associated with influenza. We used modelling methods to estimate influenza-associated mortality for the European Union by age group and country. We compiled influenza-associated respiratory mortality estimates for 31 countries around the world (11 countries in the EU) during 2002–2011 (excluding the 2009 pandemic). From these we extrapolated the influenza mortality burden for all 193 countries of the world, including the 28 countries of the EU, using a multiple imputation approach. To study the effect of vaccination programs, we obtained data from the EU-funded VENICE project regarding the percentage of persons over 65 who were vaccinated in each country; the data ranged from 2% to 82% between the 21 countries which provided estimates for the 2006/07 reference season. We estimated that an average of 27,600 (range 16,200-39,000) respiratory deaths were associated with seasonal influenza in the 28 EU countries per winter; 88% were among people 65 years and older, and the rates of mortality in this age group were roughly 35 times higher compared with those < 65 years. Estimates varied considerably across the EU; for example, rates in the elderly ranged from 21.6 (12.5–35.1) per 100,000 in Portugal to 36.5 (16.4–62.5) in Luxembourg, a difference of nearly 70%. We were unable to find a negative correlation between vaccination coverage rates and influenza-associated mortality estimates in the elderly. Our EU estimate of influenza-associated respiratory mortality is broadly consistent with the ECDC estimate. More research is needed to explain the observed variation in mortality across the EU, and on possible bias that could explain the unexpected lack of mortality benefits associated with European elderly influenza vaccination programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Previous studies have associated elevated mortality risk in central Appalachia with coal-mining activities, but few have explored how different non-coal factors influence the association within each county. Consequently, there is a knowledge gap in identifying effective ways to address health disparities in coal-mining counties. To specifically address this knowledge gap, this study estimated the effect of living in a coal-mining county on non-malignant respiratory diseases (NMRD) mortality, and defined this as “coal-county effect.” We also investigated what factors may accentuate or attenuate the coal-county effect. Methods An ecological epidemiology protocol was designed to observe the characteristics of three populations and to identify the effects of coal-mining on community health. Records for seven coal-mining counties (n = 19,692) were obtained with approvals from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics for the years 2005 to 2012. Also requested were records from three adjacent coal counties (n = 10,425) to provide a geographic comparison. For a baseline comparison, records were requested for eleven tobacco-producing counties (n = 27,800). We analyzed the association of 57,917 individual mortality records in Virginia with coal-mining county residency, county-level socioeconomic status, health access, behavioral risk factors, and coal production. The development of a two-level hierarchical model allowed the coal-county effect to vary by county-level characteristics. Wald tests detected sets of significant factors explaining the variation of impacts across counties. Furthermore, to illustrate how the model estimations help explain health disparities, two coal-mining county case studies were presented. Results The main result revealed that coal-mining county residency increased the probability of dying from NMRD. The coal-county effect was accentuated by surface coal mining, high smoking rates, decreasing health insurance coverage, and a shortage of doctors. In Virginia coal-mining regions, the average coal-county effect increased by 147% (p-value

Abstract Background In the winter of 2016–2017, the number of deaths recorded in the north-west Europe was significantly higher than that in previous years. This spike in mortality was attributed principally to an influenza epidemic, but the contribution of air pollution and cold temperature has not been investigated. Information on the combined effect of low temperatures, influenza epidemic, and air pollution on mortality is inadequate. The objective of this study was to estimate the excess mortality in the winter of 2016–2017 in the metropolitan area of Milan, and to evaluate the independent short-term effect of 3 risk factors: low temperatures, the influenza epidemic, and air pollution. Methods We used a case-crossover, time-stratified study design. Mortality data were collected on all people aged > 65 years who died of natural causes, due to respiratory diseases or cardiovascular diseases, between December 1, 2016 and February 15, 2017. Environmental data were extracted from the Regional Environmental Protection Agency. The National Surveillance Network provided data on influenza epidemic. Results Among the 7590 natural deaths in people aged > 65 years, 965 (13%) were caused by respiratory conditions, and 2688 (35%) were caused by cardiovascular conditions. There were statistically significant associations between the minimum recorded temperature and deaths due to natural causes (OR = 0.966, 95% CI: 0.944–0.989), and cardiovascular conditions (OR = 0.961, 95% CI: 0.925–0.999). There were also statistically significant association between the influenza epidemic and deaths due to natural causes (OR = 1.198, 95% CI: 1.156–1.241), cardiovascular conditions (OR = 1.153, 95% CI: 1.088–1.223), and respiratory conditions (OR = 1.303, 95% CI: 1.166–1.456). High levels of PM10 (60 and 70 μg/m3) were associated with a statistically significant increase in natural and cause-specific mortality. There were statistically significant interactions between PM10 and influenza for cardiovascular-related mortality, and between influenza and temperature for deaths due to natural causes. Conclusions Excess of mortality in Milan during winter 2016–2017 was associated with influenza epidemic and concomitant environmental exposures, specifically, the combined effect of air pollution and low temperatures. Policies mitigating the effects of environmental risk factors should be implemented to prevent future excess mortality.

To improve ambient air quality during the 2008 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Chinese Government and Beijing’s municipal government implemented comprehensive emission control policies in Beijing and its neighboring regions before and during this period. The goal of this study was to investigate the association between particulate air pollution and cause-specific respiratory mortality before, during and after the period of the Olympic Games. Further, we wanted to assess whether changes in pollutant concentrations were linked to changes in respiratory mortality. We obtained daily data on mortality due to respiratory diseases (coded as J00-J99 according to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th revision [ICD10]) and pneumonia (ICD10: J12–18), meteorology, particulate matter less than 10 µm or 2.5 μm in diameter (PM10, PM2.5) and particle number size distribution from official monitoring networks and sites located on the Peking University campus between May 20 and December 1, 2008. We assessed the effects of particulate air pollution on daily respiratory mortality using confounder-adjusted Quasi-Poisson regression models. Furthermore, we estimated air pollution effects for three periods—before (May 20 to July 20, 2008), during (August 1 to September 20, 2008) and after (October 1 to December 1, 2008)—by including interaction terms in the models. We found associations between different particle metrics and respiratory and pneumonia mortality, with more pronounced effects in smaller particle size ranges. For example, an interquartile range increase of 7,958 particles/cm3 in ultrafine particles (particles

The unequal geographic distribution of health determinants could denote situations of environmental injustice. This work aims to identify spatial patterns of respiratory disease mortality and their association with the education level and the atmospheric pollution in Madrid. To this purpose, we applied spatial analysis through statistical techniques and Geographic Information Systems at the census tract level. The analysis showed a slight but significantly higher risk of mortality in areas with more unfavourable socioeconomic and environmental conditions. This work has the potential to inform public policy and research on links among social, environmental and health inequalities in Madrid City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenic obesity is defined as a combination of sarcopenia and obesity. Previous studies have shown a positive association between sarcopenia and respiratory disease, while other studies have identified that obese individuals have a lower risk for respiratory diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association of obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with respiratory disease incidence and mortality. Data from 170,083 participants from the prospective UK Biobank study were included. Sarcopenic obesity was defined as the combination of sarcopenia with one of the following obesity criteria: BMI ≥30 kg/m2, waist circumference (WC) ≥ 88 cm in women or ≥ 102 cm in men, or the two highest sex-specific quintiles of body fat. Respiratory disease incidence and mortality were the outcomes. The mean follow-up period was 7.0 years. 5459 (3.2%) participants developed respiratory diseases and 780 (0.5%) died from respiratory diseases. Compared to individuals without obesity or sarcopenia, those who were obese (Hazard Ratio (HR): 1.13 [95 CI: 1.03; 1.23]), sarcopenic (HR: 1.23 [95% CI: 1.10; 1.36]) or sarcopenic obese (based on BMI) (HR: 1.51 [95% CI: 1.30; 1.77]), had a higher risk of respiratory disease incidence. However, the risk of respiratory disease mortality was higher in sarcopenic individuals and lower in obese individuals. No associations were identified between sarcopenic obesity and respiratory mortality (HR: 1.12 [95% CI: 0.76; 1.63]). Similar patterns were found when obesity was defined using WC or body fat. Obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were associated with a higher risk of respiratory disease incidence. However, while obesity was associated with lower, and sarcopenia with higher respiratory mortality risk, no associations between sarcopenic obesity and respiratory mortality were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial synoptic classification (SSC) is a holistic categorical assessment of the daily weather conditions at specific locations; it is a useful tool for assessing weather effects on health. In this study, we assessed (a) the effect of hot weather types and the duration of heat events on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in summer and (b) the effect of cold weather types and the duration of cold events on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in winter. A time-stratified case-crossover design combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was carried out to investigate the association of weather types with cause-specific mortality in two southern (Skåne and Stockholm) and two northern (Jämtland and Västerbotten) locations in Sweden. During summer, in the southern locations, the Moist Tropical (MT) and Dry Tropical (DT) weather types increased cardiovascular and respiratory mortality at shorter lags; both hot weather types substantially increased respiratory mortality mainly in Skåne. The impact of heat events on mortality by cardiovascular and respiratory diseases was more important in the southern than in the northern locations at lag 0. The cumulative effect of MT, DT and heat events lagged over 14 days was particularly high for respiratory mortality in all locations except in Jämtland, though these did not show a clear effect on cardiovascular mortality. During winter, the dry polar and moist polar weather types and cold events showed a negligible effect on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. This study provides valuable information about the relationship between hot oppressive weather types with cause-specific mortality; however, the cold weather types may not capture sufficiently effects on cause-specific mortality in this sub-Arctic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive Ca intakes have been proposed to associate with vascular calcification and a higher risk of prostate cancer. We investigated the associations of supplemental and dietary Ca intake with mortality using data from 497 828 UK Biobank participants. The average follow-up was 4·2 years and 14 255 participants died, 8297 from cancer, 2959 from CVD and 572 from respiratory disease. The use of Ca supplements and milk consumption were associated with differences in mortality in younger (≤65 years) but not in older participants (>65 years, P interaction ≤ 0·04 for all comparisons). Among participants <65 years, there was an inverse association between Ca supplementation (OR 0·91, 95 % CI 0·83, 0·99) and milk consumption (OR 0·93, 95 % CI 0·86, 1·00) with respect to all-cause mortality. In the same age group, milk drinkers had lower odds of cancer mortality (OR 0·89, 95 % CI 0·80, 0·98) but Ca supplement use was associated with increased odds of respiratory mortality (OR 1·69, 95 % CI 1·16, 2·74). All associations in participants aged ≥65 years were null after full adjustment. In sensitivity analyses stratified by hormone replacement therapy, Ca supplement use was associated with decreased odds of cancer mortality in users but increased risk in other women (OR 0·81, 95 % CI 0·69, 0·94 v. OR 1·17, 95 % CI 1·01, 1·35, respectively). To conclude, we saw little evidence for harm with dietary or supplemental Ca. Further studies are required to confirm the proposed interaction with hormone replacement therapy and to exclude reverse causation as a determinant in the association between Ca supplements and increased risk of respiratory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

World Health Organization updated the target of annual mean NO _2 from 40 μ g m ^−3 to 10 μ g m ^−3 in 2021 based on new evidences that showed statistically independent effects of long-term exposure to ambient NO _2 and mortality. We estimate the excess deaths associated with long-term exposure to ambient NO _2 (DAAN) from non-accidental disease (NAD), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and respiratory disease (RD) in China in 2013–2020 using a counterfactual analytic framework adopted by Global Burden Disease. We use relative risk (RR) values based on a meta-analysis, and assume a linear concentration-response (C-R) function and a threshold value of 10 μ g m ^−3 . DAAN from NAD vary in 279 (95% Cl: 189–366) to 339 (95% Cl: 231–442) thousand in 2013–2020, comparable to excess deaths attributed to long-term exposure to ambient O _3 in China. DAAN from NAD changes by −43%–+220% using different RR values, C-R function shapes, and threshold values. DAAN from RD reduces while those from CVD increases significantly in 2013–2020. DAAN from RD account for ∼10% of total DAAN. We found that the reduction of NO _2 concentration and baseline mortality of NAD offsets the adverse effects of population growth and aging in 2013–2017. In 2017–2020, the contribution from air pollution reduction surpasses the adverse effects of population growth and aging in most regions. We suggest that continuing the reduction rate of NO _2 emissions in 2013–2020 would offset the effects of population growth and aging in 2020–2030. Faster reduction of NO _2 sources is required to reduce DAAN in Liaoning, Shanxi, Shanghai, and Anhui, where DAAN from NAD, CVD and RD increased in 2013–2020. Our results should be interpreted with caution because the causality support of long-term exposure to ambient NO _2 on mortality from toxicological studies is not firm yet, and NO _2 is possibly just a marker of traffic-related pollutants.

Chronic respiratory diseases cause huge death burden worldwide, especially in developing countries. The influence of ambient temperature on respiratory mortality has attracted growing concerns in the background of climate change. Daily cause-specific respiratory deaths and meteorological variables were collected from 16 Chinese cities during 2007–2013. We first applied the distributed lag non-linear model for each city to calculate the percentage change in respiratory mortality risk with a 1 °C change in moderate and extreme temperature range. Then, random-effect meta-analytical approach was used to produce the pooled effects. Individual-level and city-level effect modifications were separately assessed by the stratified analysis and mixed effects meta-regression model. Both cold and heat effects were associated with respiratory mortality. The pooled excess risk was 4.40% (95%CI: 2.75–6.08%), 2.23% (1.19–3.28%), 2.64% (1.81–3.47%), and 4.21% (3.10–5.33%) for 1 °C change among extreme cold, moderate cold, moderate heat, and extreme heat, respectively. Positive heat and cold effects were found for COPD, asthma, and pneumonia, among which asthma was most vulnerable to extreme cold temperatures, with the effect estimate of 6.52% (2.73–10.46%). The heat effects were much higher in females than males. Slightly higher risks were also observed in the elderly during the heat, and those with lower education level during the heat and extreme cold. City-level modifiers included green coverage rates and diurnal temperature range. Ambient heat and cold temperatures are positively associated with respiratory mortality in China. Individual and city-specific effect modifiers should be taken into consideration in policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives There is a growing body of evidence linking ambient air temperature and adverse health effects, in the form of hospitalization or even increased mortality mainly due to respiratory and cardio/cerebro-vascular illnesses. In the present study, we examine the association between high ambient air temperature and cardiovascular as well as respiratory mortality for the population of the greater area of Thessaloniki, Greece, taking into account the role of particulate pollution as a potential confounder. Methods A mixed Poisson regression model, using a quasi-likelihood function to account for potential over-dispersion in the outcome distribution given covariates, was combined with distributed lag non-linear models, to estimate the non-linear and lag patterns in the association between mortality and daily mean temperature from 1999 to 2012. Results A direct heat effect was found, as the mortality risk increased sharply above the temperature threshold of 33 °C, suggesting a significant effect of high temperatures on mortality on the same and next day of the heat events (lags 0–1) which was retained for a week, whereas a harvesting effect was noticed for the following days. Cardiovascular and respiratory mortality risk increased by 4.4% (95% CI 2.7%–6.1%) and 5.9% (95% CI 1.8%–10.3%) respectively on the same and following day of a heat event, whereas the risk dropped steeply in the following days. Particulate matter did not confound the association between high temperature and mortality in this population. Conclusion There is a significant association between mortality and hot temperatures in Thessaloniki, Greece. Reduction in exposure to increased temperatures, as part of prevention measures and strategies, should be considered for vulnerable subpopulations. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • High ambient temperature is a known risk factor for cardio-respiratory mortality. • In Thessaloniki, this association is examined using DLNM models. • Above 33 °C, mortality risk increased for the same and next day of the heat event. • Mortality risk dropped steeply in following days, demonstrating a harvesting effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the risk of death from two potentially avoidable causes with different aetiologies: respiratory tract infection (RTI) and sudden unexplained death (SUD) in children with and without chronic conditions.Design: Whole-country, birth cohort study using linked administrative health databases from Scotland.Setting and Participants: Children aged 2 months to less than 5 years in Scotland between 2000 and 2014.Main Outcome Measures: Relative risk of death (expressed as the HR) related to RTIs or SUD, in children with and without chronic conditions. We separately analysed deaths at ages 2-11 months and at 1-4 years and adjusted for birth characteristics, socioeconomic status and vaccination uptake using Cox regression.Results: The cohort comprised 761 172 children. Chronic conditions were recorded in 9.6% (n=72 901) of live births, 82.4% (n=173) of RTI-related deaths and 17.4% (n=49) of SUDs. Chronic conditions were very strongly associated with RTI mortality (2-11 months: HR 68.48, 95% CI (40.57 to 115.60), 1-4 years: HR 38.32, 95% CI (23.26 to 63.14)) and strongly associated with SUD (2-11 months: HR 2.42, 95% CI (1.67 to 3.63), 1-4 years: HR 2.53, 95% CI (1.36 to 4.71)).Conclusions: The very strong association with chronic conditions suggests that RTI-related mortality may sometimes be a consequence of a terminal decline and not possible to defer or prevent in all cases. Recording whether death was expected on death certificates could indicate which RTI-related deaths might be avoidable through healthcare and public health measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we attempted to investigate the general statistical association of air pollution with the cardiovascular and respiratory mortality of the elderly in Hong Kong. Based on six years of measurements including the major air pollutant concentrations (PM10, SO2, NO, NO2, O3, CO), ambient temperature, and mortality (respiratory, cardiovascular) between 2005 and 2010, correlation analysis was carried out in annual, monthly and weekly time scales. From an annual perspective, it was found that the air pollution species may pose a constant effect on the respiratory and the cardiovascular mortality during the studied period since the elderly mortality rates and the air pollution annual concentrations show obvious constant trends. From a monthly time scale, it was found that NO2 and CO have high positive cross correlation with the respiratory mortality of the following 1 to 2 months. In addition, PM10 and CO also have similar delayed influence on the cardiovascular mortality. Among these four pollutants, only CO was found to exhibit high statistical association in the weekly time scale and it is most related to the cardiovascular mortality of the week after next. Therefore, it was concluded that the effect of air pollution on the elderly mortality of Hong Kong should be cumulative. This study implies that the establishment of weekly or monthly air quality indices is necessary for health implications.

Although the growths of ambient pollutants have been attracting public concern, the characteristic of the associations between air pollutants and mortality remains elusive. Time series analysis with a generalized additive model was performed to estimate the associations between ambient air pollutants and mortality outcomes in Shenzhen City for the period of 2012-2014. The results showed that nitrogen dioxide (NO)-induced excess risks (ER) of total non-accidental mortality and cardiovascular mortality were significantly increased (6.05% (95% CI 3.38%, 8.78%); 6.88% (95% CI 2.98%, 10.93%), respectively) in interquartile range (IQR) increase analysis. Also, these associations were strengthened after adjusting for other pollutants. Moreover, similar associations were estimated for sulfur dioxide (SO), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM), and total non-accidental mortality. There were significant higher ERs of associations between PM and mortality for men than women; while there were significant higher ERs of associations between PM/NO and mortality for elders (65 or elder) than youngers (64 or younger). Season analyses showed that associations between NO and total non-accidental mortality were more pronounced in hot seasons than in warm seasons. Taken together, NO was positively associated with total non-accidental mortality and cardiovascular mortality in Shenzhen even when the concentrations were below the ambient air quality standard. Policy measures should aim at reducing residents' exposure to anthropogenic NO emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]