Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 14, 2026

Measuring Carbon Content in Airway Macrophages Exposed to Carbon-Containing Particulate Matters
Published on: July 12, 2024
Ambient PM2.5 and Risk of Hospital Admissions: Do Risks Differ for Men and Women?
Michelle L Bell1, Ji-Young Son, Roger D Peng
1From the aSchool of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT; bDepartment of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; and cDepartment of Biostatistics, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
Background:
While strong evidence exists for associations between fine particles (PM2.5) and health, less is known about whether associations differ by sex.
Methods:
We used Bayesian hierarchical modeling to estimate associations between PM2.5, based on ambient monitors, and risk of cause-specific cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalizations for about 12.6 million Medicare beneficiaries (>65 years) residing in 213 US counties for 1999-2010.
Results:
Point estimates were higher for women than men for almost all causes of hospitalization. PM2.5 risks were higher for women than men for respiratory tract infection, cardiovascular, and heart rhythm disturbance admissions. A 10 μg/m(3) increase in same-day PM2.5 was associated with a 1.13% increased risk of heart rhythm disturbance admissions for women (95% posterior interval [PI]: 0.63%, 1.63%), and 0.03% for men (95% PI: -0.48%, 0.55%). Differences remained after stratification by age and season.
Conclusions:
Women may be more susceptible to PM2.5-related hospitalizations for some respiratory and cardiovascular causes.
More Related Videos
09:33Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India
Published on: December 23, 2022
05:45Composition and Distribution Analysis of Bioaerosols Under Different Environmental Conditions
Published on: January 7, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
Asthma-I: Introduction
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...