Long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China: a retrospective cohort study from CHARLS

BackgroundAir pollution caused by ambient fine particulate matter (≤ 2.5 μm) adversely affects human health. Previous studies have shown that PM2.5 exposure increases the risk of lung diseases. However, the relationship between long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged a...

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Main Authors: Xiaojun Wu, Kai Zhang, Daihua Yu, Jingjing Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1549830/full
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author Xiaojun Wu
Kai Zhang
Daihua Yu
Jingjing Li
author_facet Xiaojun Wu
Kai Zhang
Daihua Yu
Jingjing Li
author_sort Xiaojun Wu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundAir pollution caused by ambient fine particulate matter (≤ 2.5 μm) adversely affects human health. Previous studies have shown that PM2.5 exposure increases the risk of lung diseases. However, the relationship between long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China is still unclear.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study through the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and Science Data Bank (ScienceDB). The logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to explore the relationship between long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases. To further increase the robustness of the results, we performed sensitivity and subgroup analyses.ResultsA total of 10,707 patients were included in this study. The 10,707 patients were divided into two groups: without new-onset lung diseases (n = 9,019) and with new-onset lung diseases (n = 1,688). The results of multivariate analysis showed that per 1 ug/m3 increase in annual PM2.5 concentration, the risk of new lung diseases increased by 0.3%. The results of the RCS showed that PM2.5 exposure increased the risk of new-onset lung diseases more significantly when the annual PM2.5 concentration was greater than 48.5 ug/m3. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis also confirmed the reliability of the results.ConclusionPM2.5 exposure increases the risk of new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and old adults in China, especially when the concentration of PM2.5 > 48.5 ug/m3. Our study established an empirical foundation for refining PM2.5 emission regulations, developing age-stratified screening protocols for incident pulmonary diseases, and advancing mechanistic investigations into PM2.5-induced lung pathology.
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spelling doaj-art-ab245cd127b14e32b333eebdbac598fc2025-08-20T03:12:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15498301549830Long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China: a retrospective cohort study from CHARLSXiaojun Wu0Kai Zhang1Daihua Yu2Jingjing Li3Department of General Surgery, Xi’an No.3 Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi’an, ChinaDepartment of Intensive Care Unit, Xi’an No.3 Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi’an, ChinaDepartment of Intensive Care Unit, Xi’an No.3 Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi’an, ChinaDepartment of Intensive Care Unit, Xi’an No.3 Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi’an, ChinaBackgroundAir pollution caused by ambient fine particulate matter (≤ 2.5 μm) adversely affects human health. Previous studies have shown that PM2.5 exposure increases the risk of lung diseases. However, the relationship between long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China is still unclear.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study through the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and Science Data Bank (ScienceDB). The logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to explore the relationship between long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases. To further increase the robustness of the results, we performed sensitivity and subgroup analyses.ResultsA total of 10,707 patients were included in this study. The 10,707 patients were divided into two groups: without new-onset lung diseases (n = 9,019) and with new-onset lung diseases (n = 1,688). The results of multivariate analysis showed that per 1 ug/m3 increase in annual PM2.5 concentration, the risk of new lung diseases increased by 0.3%. The results of the RCS showed that PM2.5 exposure increased the risk of new-onset lung diseases more significantly when the annual PM2.5 concentration was greater than 48.5 ug/m3. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis also confirmed the reliability of the results.ConclusionPM2.5 exposure increases the risk of new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and old adults in China, especially when the concentration of PM2.5 > 48.5 ug/m3. Our study established an empirical foundation for refining PM2.5 emission regulations, developing age-stratified screening protocols for incident pulmonary diseases, and advancing mechanistic investigations into PM2.5-induced lung pathology.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1549830/fulllong-termPM2.5 exposurenew-onset lung diseasesmiddle-aged and older adultsChina
spellingShingle Xiaojun Wu
Kai Zhang
Daihua Yu
Jingjing Li
Long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China: a retrospective cohort study from CHARLS
Frontiers in Public Health
long-term
PM2.5 exposure
new-onset lung diseases
middle-aged and older adults
China
title Long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China: a retrospective cohort study from CHARLS
title_full Long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China: a retrospective cohort study from CHARLS
title_fullStr Long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China: a retrospective cohort study from CHARLS
title_full_unstemmed Long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China: a retrospective cohort study from CHARLS
title_short Long-term PM2.5 exposure and new-onset lung diseases among middle-aged and older adults in China: a retrospective cohort study from CHARLS
title_sort long term pm2 5 exposure and new onset lung diseases among middle aged and older adults in china a retrospective cohort study from charls
topic long-term
PM2.5 exposure
new-onset lung diseases
middle-aged and older adults
China
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1549830/full
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