D2.117 - The interaction of exposure to air pollutants and inflammatory markers on lung function and asthma symptoms in asthmatic patients

The harmful effects of ambient air pollution on the human body are a major public health concern. Particulate matter enters the body, accumulates in the lungs, and can even reach the bloodstream, where it recruits inflammatory factors, leading to an inflammatory response. This study aimed to investigate the interaction effects of exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 with inflammatory markers on lung function and asthma symptoms in patients with asthma.

This cross-sectional study recruited 842 asthma patients from medical centers. Land use regression (LUR) and spatial interpolation (kriging) were used to estimate air pollution levels at the patients' residences. Stratified analyses by air pollutant levels (based on the median) were performed to examine the interactions between inflammatory markers and health outcomes.

The results showed that an increase in PM2.5 was significantly positively correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.039, 95% CI = 0.002–0.076) and IL-8 (r = 0.028, 95% CI= 0.001–0.055) and had a significant negative association with poor asthma control. Neutrophils were significantly associated with lower lung function and worse asthma symptoms, including reduced scores for AQLQ, AQLQ-activity, and ACT. Stratified analyses by particulate matter revealed significant interaction effects between PM2.5 and eosinophils and neutrophils on lung function, AQLQ-activity, and ACT scores.

Our findings indicate that particulate matter influences inflammatory markers, lung function, and asthma severity in patients with asthma.