Associations between Changes in Exposure to Air Pollutants due to Relocation and the Incidence of 14 Major Disease Categories and All-Cause Mortality: A Natural Experiment Study
Chen Ge, Zhengmin Qian, Junguo Zhang, Xiaojie Wang, Zilong Zhang, Miao Cai, Lauren D. Arnold, Chad Abresch, Chuangshi Wang, Y. Liu, Qi Fan, Hualiang Lin
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Though observational studies have widely linked air pollution exposure to various chronic diseases, evidence comparing different exposures in the same people is limited. This study examined associations between changes in air pollution exposure due to relocation and the incidence and mortality of 14 major diseases. METHODS: ) were estimated for each participant based on their residential address and relocation experience during the follow-up. Nine exposure groups were classified based on changes in long-term exposures due to residential mobility. Incidence and mortality of 14 major diseases were identified through linkages to hospital inpatient records and death registries. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incidence and mortality of the 14 diseases of interest. RESULTS: were positively associated with 14 diseases and all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports potential associations between ambient air pollution exposure and morbidity as well as mortality. Findings also emphasize the importance of maintaining consistently low levels of air pollution to protect the public's health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14367.