Anke Hüls1,2, Dorothee Sugiri1, Michael J Abramson1,3, Barbara Hoffmann4, Holger Schwender5, Katja Ickstadt6, Ursula Krämer1, Tamara Schikowski7. 1. IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany. 2. Dept of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. 3. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. 4. Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. 5. Mathematical Institute, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. 6. Faculty of Statistics, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany. 7. IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany tamara.schikowski@iuf-duesseldorf.de.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The beneficial effect of improving air quality on lung function in the elderly remains unclear. We examined associations between decline in air pollutants and lung function, and effect modifications by genetics and body mass index (BMI), in elderly German women. METHODS: Data were analysed from the prospective SALIA (Study on the influence of Air pollution on Lung function, Inflammation and Aging) study (n=601). Spirometry was conducted at baseline (1985-1994; age 55 years), in 2007-2010 and in 2012-2013. Air pollution concentrations at home addresses were determined for each time-point using land-use regression models. Global Lung Initiative 2012 z-scores were calculated. Weighted genetic risk scores (GRSs) were determined from lung function-related risk alleles and used to investigate interactions with improved air quality. Multiple linear mixed models were fitted. RESULTS: Air pollution levels decreased substantially during the study period. Reduction of air pollution was associated with an increase in z-scores for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and the FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio. For a decrease of 10 µg·m-3 in nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the z-score for FEV1 increased by 0.14 (95% CI 0.01-0.26). However, with an increasing number of lung function-related risk alleles, the benefit from improved air quality decreased (GRS×NO2 interaction: p=0.029). Interactions with BMI were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of air pollution is associated with a relative improvement of lung function in elderly women, but also depends on their genetic make-up.
INTRODUCTION: The beneficial effect of improving air quality on lung function in the elderly remains unclear. We examined associations between decline in air pollutants and lung function, and effect modifications by genetics and body mass index (BMI), in elderly German women. METHODS: Data were analysed from the prospective SALIA (Study on the influence of Air pollution on Lung function, Inflammation and Aging) study (n=601). Spirometry was conducted at baseline (1985-1994; age 55 years), in 2007-2010 and in 2012-2013. Air pollution concentrations at home addresses were determined for each time-point using land-use regression models. Global Lung Initiative 2012 z-scores were calculated. Weighted genetic risk scores (GRSs) were determined from lung function-related risk alleles and used to investigate interactions with improved air quality. Multiple linear mixed models were fitted. RESULTS: Air pollution levels decreased substantially during the study period. Reduction of air pollution was associated with an increase in z-scores for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and the FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio. For a decrease of 10 µg·m-3 in nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the z-score for FEV1 increased by 0.14 (95% CI 0.01-0.26). However, with an increasing number of lung function-related risk alleles, the benefit from improved air quality decreased (GRS×NO2 interaction: p=0.029). Interactions with BMI were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of air pollution is associated with a relative improvement of lung function in elderly women, but also depends on their genetic make-up.
Authors: Carl A Melbourne; A Mesut Erzurumluoglu; Nick Shrine; Jing Chen; Martin D Tobin; Anna L Hansell; Louise V Wain Journal: Environ Int Date: 2021-12-17 Impact factor: 9.621
Authors: Anke Hüls; Aneesa Vanker; Diane Gray; Nastassja Koen; Julia L MacIsaac; David T S Lin; Katia E Ramadori; Peter D Sly; Dan J Stein; Michael S Kobor; Heather J Zar Journal: Eur Respir J Date: 2020-03-26 Impact factor: 16.671