The Impact of Urban Air Pollution on Respiratory Diseases: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Urban air pollution is a critical public health concern, contributing to an increasing burden of respiratory diseases worldwide. This longitudinal study analyzed the correlation between air pollution levels and respiratory illness prevalence in five metropolitan cities over a 10-year period (2013–2023). Data from 250,000 patient records and air quality indices (AQI) from 50 monitoring stations were used.

Findings revealed a significant positive correlation between high PM2.5 levels and chronic respiratory diseases, particularly asthma and COPD. Cities with an annual PM2.5 concentration above 50 µg/m³ reported a 45% higher prevalence of asthma cases (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.36–1.55, p < 0.001) compared to cities with levels below 25 µg/m³. Emergency hospital visits due to acute respiratory distress increased by 32% (p = 0.002) during periods of high pollution. Furthermore, exposure to NO2 above 40 ppb was associated with a 27% increase in COPD-related hospitalizations (p < 0.001).

The study also observed disparities in health outcomes, with lower-income communities experiencing 1.8 times higher rates of hospital admissions due to air pollution exposure compared to wealthier districts (p = 0.004). Implementing air quality policies and reducing vehicle emissions resulted in a 21% decrease in respiratory disease cases in cities with strict regulations (p = 0.001).

These findings emphasize the urgent need for global and local policy interventions to mitigate air pollution’s impact on respiratory health. Future research should focus on long-term health consequences and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.