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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 May 26;15(6):1077.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph15061077.

Short-Term Particulate Air Pollution Exposure is Associated with Increased Severity of Respiratory and Quality of Life Symptoms in Patients with Fibrotic Sarcoidosis

Cheryl S Pirozzi  1 , Daniel L Mendoza  2   3 , Yizhe Xu  4 , Yue Zhang  5 , Mary Beth Scholand  6 , Robert P Baughman  7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Short-Term Particulate Air Pollution Exposure is Associated with Increased Severity of Respiratory and Quality of Life Symptoms in Patients with Fibrotic Sarcoidosis

Cheryl S Pirozzi et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

This study aimed to determine if short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O₃) is associated with increased symptoms or lung function decline in fibrotic sarcoidosis. Sixteen patients with fibrotic sarcoidosis complicated by frequent exacerbations completed pulmonary function testing and questionnaires every three months for one year. We compared 7-, 10-, and 14-day average levels of PM2.5 and O₃ estimated at patient residences to spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), to forced vital capacity (FVC), episodes of FEV1 decline > 10%) and questionnaire outcomes (Leicester cough questionnaire (LCQ), Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and King's Sarcoidosis Questionnaire (KSQ)) using generalized linear mixed effect models. PM2.5 level averaged over 14 days was associated with lower KSQ general health status (score change -6.60 per interquartile range (IQR) PM2.5 increase). PM2.5 level averaged over 10 and 14 days was associated with lower KSQ lung specific health status (score change -6.93 and -6.91, respectively). PM2.5 levels were not associated with FEV₁, FVC, episodes of FEV₁ decline > 10%, or respiratory symptoms measured by SGRQ or LCQ. Ozone exposure was not associated with any health outcomes. In this small cohort of patients with fibrotic sarcoidosis, PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased severity of respiratory and quality of life symptoms.

Keywords: air pollution; ozone; particulate matter; pulmonary function tests; respiratory; sarcoidosis; signs and symptoms.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Baughman has received research support from Astra Zeneca, Genentech, Mallinckrodt, Gilead, and Bayer in the area of sarcoidosis treatment. Dr. Baughman has consulted for Mallinckrodt and Genentech in the area of sarcoidosis treatment. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Cincinnati. Individual patient consent was not required.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Association between particulate matter (PM2.5) and lung function outcomes. Shown are percentage change of FEV1 and FVC per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 averaged over 7, 10, and 14 days. FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s. FVC: forced vital capacity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Association between PM2.5 and questionnaire outcomes. Shown are questionnaire score changes per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 averaged over 7, 10, and 14 days. SGRQ = St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire; LCQ = Leicester Cough Questionnaire; KSQ = King’s Sarcoidosis Questionnaire.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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