Estimating the causal effect of low levels of fine particulate matter on hospitalization

Makar, M; Antonelli, J; Di, Q; Cutler, D; Schwartz, J; Dominici, F

HERO ID

3893316

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2017

Language

English

PMID

28768298

HERO ID 3893316
In Press No
Year 2017
Title Estimating the causal effect of low levels of fine particulate matter on hospitalization
Authors Makar, M; Antonelli, J; Di, Q; Cutler, D; Schwartz, J; Dominici, F
Journal Epidemiology
Volume 28
Issue 5
Page Numbers 627-634
Abstract Background: In 2012, the EPA enacted more stringent National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Few studies have characterized the health effects of air pollution levels lower than the most recent NAAQS for long-term exposure to PM2.5 (now 12 μg/m3). Methods: We constructed a cohort of 32,119 Medicare beneficiaries residing in 5138 US ZIP codes who were interviewed as part of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) between 2002 and 2010 and had 1 year of follow-up. We considered four outcomes: all-cause hospitalizations, hospitalizations for circulatory diseases and respiratory diseases, and death. Results: We found that increasing exposure to PM2.5 from levels lower than 12 μg/m3 to levels higher than 12 μg/m3 is associated with increases in all-cause admission rates of 7% (95% CI = 3%, 10%) and in circulatory admission hazard rates of 6% (95% CI = 2%, 9%). When we restricted analysis to enrollees with exposure always lower than 12 μg/m3, we found that increasing exposure from levels lower than 8 μg/m3 to levels higher than 8 μg/m3 increased all-cause admission hazard rates by 15% (95% CI = 8%, 23%), circulatory by 18% (95% CI = 10%, 27%), and respiratory by 21% (95% CI = 9%, 34%).
Doi 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000690
Pmid 28768298
Wosid WOS:000406679200008
Url http://Insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00001648-201709000-00001
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
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