Long-term exposure to air pollution and gastrointestinal disease: findings from a nationwide cohort study in China
Abstract Background and aims Air pollution poses significant risks to human health, but its impact on gastrointestinal (GI) health remains underexplored. This study assesses the long-term effects of air pollution on GI diseases using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHAR...
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21910-5 |
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| author | Yanqi Kou Shicai Ye Weimin Du Zhuoyan Lu Ke Yang Liping Zhan Yujie Huang Ling Qin Yuping Yang |
| author_facet | Yanqi Kou Shicai Ye Weimin Du Zhuoyan Lu Ke Yang Liping Zhan Yujie Huang Ling Qin Yuping Yang |
| author_sort | Yanqi Kou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background and aims Air pollution poses significant risks to human health, but its impact on gastrointestinal (GI) health remains underexplored. This study assesses the long-term effects of air pollution on GI diseases using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Methods This nationwide cohort study utilized CHARLS data from participants recruited in 2011, followed by surveys in 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2020. Long-term exposure to PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 was assessed using geocoded residential addresses linked to air quality data. Cox proportional hazards models and subgroup interaction analyses were used to evaluate associations between pollutants and GI disease incidence, adjusting for demographic and behavioral confounders. Results The incidence of GI disease was 21.4% among participants. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.33–1.44), PM10 (HR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.26–1.36), SO2 (HR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.68–1.81), NO2 (HR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.17–1.25), CO (HR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.42–1.54), and O3 (HR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.54–0.59) was significantly associated with GI disease. Interaction analyses showed that the effects of pollutants varied by region, residence, smoking, and alcohol use. Urban residents and those living in specific regions experienced stronger associations, likely due to higher pollution levels and different environmental factors. Smokers and alcohol users were also more susceptible to the adverse effects of pollutants. Conclusions Long-term exposure to multiple air pollutants increases the risk of GI diseases, while ozone may potentially offer some protective effects. Public health measures to reduce air pollution, especially in urban areas, and to protect high-risk groups are urgently needed. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-2d78d8b20640435092fe5fc2f6463ada2025-08-20T02:56:21ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-03-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-21910-5Long-term exposure to air pollution and gastrointestinal disease: findings from a nationwide cohort study in ChinaYanqi Kou0Shicai Ye1Weimin Du2Zhuoyan Lu3Ke Yang4Liping Zhan5Yujie Huang6Ling Qin7Yuping Yang8Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Guangdong Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Guangdong Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Guangdong Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Guangdong Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Guangdong Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Guangdong Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Guangdong Medical UniversityThe First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Guangdong Medical UniversityAbstract Background and aims Air pollution poses significant risks to human health, but its impact on gastrointestinal (GI) health remains underexplored. This study assesses the long-term effects of air pollution on GI diseases using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Methods This nationwide cohort study utilized CHARLS data from participants recruited in 2011, followed by surveys in 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2020. Long-term exposure to PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 was assessed using geocoded residential addresses linked to air quality data. Cox proportional hazards models and subgroup interaction analyses were used to evaluate associations between pollutants and GI disease incidence, adjusting for demographic and behavioral confounders. Results The incidence of GI disease was 21.4% among participants. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.33–1.44), PM10 (HR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.26–1.36), SO2 (HR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.68–1.81), NO2 (HR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.17–1.25), CO (HR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.42–1.54), and O3 (HR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.54–0.59) was significantly associated with GI disease. Interaction analyses showed that the effects of pollutants varied by region, residence, smoking, and alcohol use. Urban residents and those living in specific regions experienced stronger associations, likely due to higher pollution levels and different environmental factors. Smokers and alcohol users were also more susceptible to the adverse effects of pollutants. Conclusions Long-term exposure to multiple air pollutants increases the risk of GI diseases, while ozone may potentially offer some protective effects. Public health measures to reduce air pollution, especially in urban areas, and to protect high-risk groups are urgently needed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21910-5Air pollutionsGastrointestinal diseasesLongitudinal studyPublic healthCHARLS |
| spellingShingle | Yanqi Kou Shicai Ye Weimin Du Zhuoyan Lu Ke Yang Liping Zhan Yujie Huang Ling Qin Yuping Yang Long-term exposure to air pollution and gastrointestinal disease: findings from a nationwide cohort study in China BMC Public Health Air pollutions Gastrointestinal diseases Longitudinal study Public health CHARLS |
| title | Long-term exposure to air pollution and gastrointestinal disease: findings from a nationwide cohort study in China |
| title_full | Long-term exposure to air pollution and gastrointestinal disease: findings from a nationwide cohort study in China |
| title_fullStr | Long-term exposure to air pollution and gastrointestinal disease: findings from a nationwide cohort study in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term exposure to air pollution and gastrointestinal disease: findings from a nationwide cohort study in China |
| title_short | Long-term exposure to air pollution and gastrointestinal disease: findings from a nationwide cohort study in China |
| title_sort | long term exposure to air pollution and gastrointestinal disease findings from a nationwide cohort study in china |
| topic | Air pollutions Gastrointestinal diseases Longitudinal study Public health CHARLS |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21910-5 |
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