air pollution exposure

Air pollution exposure linked with disease activity in patients with cSLE

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According to data presented at the EULAR Annual Congress, real-time air pollution exposure may have an effect on disease activity and airway inflammation in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematous.

“This is the first study that evaluated personal pollutants exposure with portable monitors in [childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematous] cSLE patients,” Maria Fernanda Giacomin Goulart, MD, from the Department of Pediatric Rheumatology at University of Sao Pāulo, said in a press conference. “We concluded that inhaled fine particles was higher than recommended by the World Health Organization [WHO]. We observed [in] patients, the median [fine particle matter] PM.2.5 mean daily concentration was 40 and the recommended [concentration] by WHO is 25 and indoor and outdoor exposure was associated with increase of airways inflammation and disease activity.”

Goulart and colleagues performed a longitudinal panel study with 108 consecutive visits of patients with cSLE. During the course of 4 weeks, investigators obtained daily personal measures of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), PM.2.5, ambient temperature and humidity, and obtained these measures every 2.5 months during the course of 1 year. They collected the pH of exhaled breath condensate (EBC pH), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and disease activity parameters weekly. The effect of the pollutants on the risk of moderate/severe disease activity was evaluated with specific generalized estimation models.

“As a result, we can see FeNO in relation to inhaled fine particles were observed [to] increase in first 3 days after exposure and also NO2 7-day cumulative, suggesting that air inflammation may be related to air pollution,” she said.

Goulart also noted that in relation to the inhaled fine particles, the EBC pH decreased in the earlier days of exposure, more specifically days 7 and 11, which demonstrated exposure to inhaled fine particles was associated to the acidification and/or inflammation of the airways.

“And remarkable, the increase in relative risk of moderate and severe disease activity was observed on days 4 and 11 after exposure indicating that exposure to air pollution may aggravate disease activity,” Goulart added. – by Monica Jaramillo

Parental history of snoring, air pollution exposure linked to snoring in children

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A history of parental snoring was significantly associated with snoring among children at the age of 7, according to results from an allergy and air pollution study presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting.

To determine the prevalence of habitual snoring in children born to atopic parents and to assess the relationship between habitual snoring, atopic status and exposure to traffic pollution, the researchers examined a prospective birth cohort consisting of 609 children from the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS).

“To our knowledge, this is the first birth cohort in the United States examining longitudinal predictors of snoring in children born to atopic parents,” researcher Jennifer A. Kannan, MD, of University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, told Healio.com/Allergy.

Clinical evaluations and questionnaires concerning allergic and respiratory symptoms, environmental exposures, and snoring frequency at ages 1 to 4 and 7 were completed by study participants. Snoring frequencies were classified as: never (< 1 night/week), sometimes (1-2 nights/week) and frequently (≥ 3 nights/week).

A land-use regression model was employed to estimate traffic pollution exposure (TRAP). To determine the association between early (< age 4) and current (age 7) allergic disease, environmental exposures, and snoring at age 7, a proportional odds logistic regression was used.

“Our study found that an early history of maternal snoring (ages 1-4) was significantly associated with snoring at age 7,” Kannan said. “Early rhinitis and early wheezing (ages 1-4) were associated but not statistically significant with snoring at age 7. A history of parental snoring, upper respiratory tract infections and exposure to traffic pollution at age 7 were significantly associated with snoring at age 7.”

According to Kannan, “Clinicians evaluating children with these characteristics should consider screening for sleep disorders which can have harmful health effects.” — by Alaina Tedesco