Exposure-Response Associations Between Air Pollution and Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Cases in Anhui Province,...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Influenza poses a significant global health and economic burden.
• Existing research on air pollution's impact on laboratory-confirmed influenza (LCI) is limited, affecting evidence reliability.
• Air pollution is suspected to exacerbate influenza risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various air pollutants and daily LCI cases in Anhui province, China.
• To precisely quantify the relationship between specific pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, O3, NO2) and LCI.
• To explore potential modifying effects of demographic and environmental factors on this association.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage time series analysis was employed, combining distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNM) with meta-analysis.
• Daily LCI data from January 2015 to March 2023 in Anhui province were analyzed.
• Subgroup analyses by age and gender, and meta-regression for modification effects were conducted.

Main Results:

• A total of 43,872 LCI cases were reported during the study period.
• Increases in PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, and NO2 were positively associated with LCI cases.
• Associations were stronger in males and individuals aged 5-24 years, with population density acting as a modifier.

Conclusions:

• Air pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NO2 are significantly associated with increased LCI incidence.
• The findings highlight the need to incorporate air quality management into influenza prevention and control strategies.
• Targeted interventions may be necessary for vulnerable populations, such as males and young adults.