Air pollution increases hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, said a study result made public Tuesday by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

A study was carried out by the Chinese University of Hong Kong which assessed the relationship between the levels of ambient air pollutants and the hospitalization rate due to COPD in Hong Kong.

Data of daily emergency hospital admissions to 15 hospitals in Hong Kong for COPD and indices of air pollutants including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxides (NO2), ozone (O3), particulates with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10mm (PM10) and 2.5mm ( PM2.5), and meteorological variables from January, 2000 to December, 2004 were obtained.

Significant associations were found between hospital admissions for COPD with all 5 air pollutants. For every 10mg/m3 increase in those pollutants, the rates of COPD hospitalizations rises from 0. 7 percent to 3.4 percent.

O3 had the strongest effect on COPD hospitalizations and the effect of SO2, NO2, and O3 had a stronger effect on COPD admissions in the cold season, from December to March, than during the warm season.

Adverse effects of ambient concentrations of air pollutants on hospitalization rates for COPD are evident, especially during the winter season in Hong Kong. Measures to improve air quality are urgently needed.

In Hong Kong, COPD was the 5th leading cause of death. The prevalence of COPD among elderly Chinese age at 70 years or above living in Hong Kong is estimated to be 9 percent. Pulmonary function and quality of life among patients with COPD were adversely affected by frequent exacerbations.

The above study result has been published in a British medical journal "Thorax".

Source: Xinhua