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Indoor Pollution and Lung Function Decline in Current and Former Smokers: SPIROMICS AIR
Nadia N Hansel1,2, Han Woo1, Kirsten Koehler2
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and.
Summary
Indoor particulate matter (PM) accelerates lung function decline in former smokers with COPD. Reducing in-home PM exposure may be a modifiable factor for slowing disease progression in this population.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Indoor pollutants are linked to COPD morbidity, but their role in disease progression is not fully understood.
- Particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are common indoor air pollutants.
- Understanding pollutant impact is crucial for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between indoor PM and NO2 exposure and lung function decline.
- To determine if this association differs between current and former smokers with a history of smoking.
- To identify potential modifiable risk factors for COPD progression.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 1,208 participants in the SPIROMICS AIR study with complete exposure and spirometry data.
- Estimated individual indoor PM and NO2 levels using prediction models.
- Employed generalized linear mixed models to assess FEV1 decline in relation to pollutant exposure and smoking status.
Main Results:
- Former smokers experienced an average FEV1 decline of 35.2 ml/yr, while current smokers declined at 60.3 ml/yr.
- Each 10 μg/m³ increase in indoor PM was linked to an additional 10 ml/yr FEV1 decline in former smokers (p=0.044).
- No significant association was found between indoor PM and FEV1 decline in current smokers. Similar trends were observed for NO2.
Conclusions:
- Former smokers with COPD residing in homes with high indoor PM exhibit accelerated lung function loss.
- In-home PM exposure may explain some of the variability in lung function decline among individuals who have quit smoking.
- Reducing indoor PM exposure represents a potential modifiable strategy to mitigate COPD progression.
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