Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
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Abstract
Air pollution is a significant public health concern, particularly in urban areas where pollutant levels such as particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO ) and sulfur dioxide (SO ) are elevated. Prolonged exposure to these pollutants is associated with impaired lung function and increased prevalence of respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study investigates the physiological effects of air pollution on lung function and respiratory health in urban and rural populations attending a tertiary care hospital in India. This cross‐sectional study involved 128 participants, with 64 individuals from urban and rural settings. Lung function was assessed using spirometry to measure forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Oxygen saturation was also measured using pulse oximetry. Air pollutant data, including PM2.5, PM10, NO and SO levels, were collected from environmental monitoring stations in the respective areas. Multivariate regression analysis assessed the relationship between pollutant exposure and lung function parameters, adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, smoking status and BMI. Urban participants exhibited significantly lower lung function compared to rural participants, with FEV and FVC values of 2.75±0.41 L and 3.47±0.46 L, respectively, in urban areas, compared to 3.05±0.49 L and 3.81±0.43 L in rural areas (p<0.05). Higher levels of PM2.5 and NO were significantly associated with reduced FEV and FVC, as well as slight reductions in oxygen saturation (p<0.05). The prevalence of respiratory diseases was notably higher in urban areas, with asthma affecting 21.9% and COPD affecting 14.1% of the urban population compared to 9.4% and 4.7% in rural areas, respectively. The findings indicate a significant association between air pollution and impaired lung function, particularly in urban populations exposed to elevated PM2.5, NO and SO levels. Urban residents were more likely to suffer from asthma and COPD compared to rural residents. These results emphasize the urgent need for public health interventions and policy reforms to mitigate air pollution in urban areas and improve respiratory health outcomes.
How to cite this article:
Dhananjay Kumar Singh, Preeti Bhatnagar, Arti Rai and Vikas Tukaram Makar. Lung Function Impairment and Respiratory Diseases in Response to Air Pollution: An Urban‐Rural Comparative Study.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2024.10.202.206
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2024.10.202.206