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. 2022 Jul 1;206(1):44-55.
doi: 10.1164/rccm.202106-1439OC.

Ambient Air Pollution and Dysanapsis: Associations with Lung Function and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease Study

Jean Bourbeau  1   2 , Dany Doiron  1 , Sharmistha Biswas  1 , Benjamin M Smith  2   3 , Andrea Benedetti  1   2 , Jeffrey R Brook  4   5 , Shawn D Aaron  6 , Kenneth R Chapman  7 , Paul Hernandez  8 , François Maltais  9 , Darcy D Marciniuk  10 , Denis O'Donnell  11 , Don D Sin  12 , Brandie Walker  13 , Liesel Dsilva  14 , Gilbert Nadeau  14 , Valérie Coats  15 , Chris Compton  16 , Bruce E Miller  17 , Wan C Tan  12 ; CanCOLD Collaborative Research Group and the Canadian Respiratory Research Network
Collaborators, Affiliations

Ambient Air Pollution and Dysanapsis: Associations with Lung Function and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease Study

Jean Bourbeau et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. .

Abstract

Rationale: Outdoor air pollution is a potential risk factor for lower lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Little is known about how airway abnormalities and lung growth might modify this relationship. Objectives: To evaluate the associations of ambient air pollution exposure with lung function and COPD and examine possible interactions with dysanapsis. Methods: We made use of cross-sectional postbronchodilator spirometry data from 1,452 individuals enrolled in the CanCOLD (Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease) study with linked ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution estimates. Dysanapsis, or the ratio of the airway-to-lung volume calculated from thoracic computed tomography images, was used to examine possible interactions. Measurements and Main Results: In adjusted models, 101.7 ml (95% confidence interval [CI], -166.2 to -37.2) and 115.0 ml (95% CI, -196.5 to -33.4) lower FEV1 were demonstrated per increase of 2.4 ug/m3 PM2.5 and 9.2 ppb NO2, respectively. Interaction between air pollution and dysanapsis was not statistically significant when modeling the airway-to-lung ratio as a continuous variable. However, a 109.8 ml (95% CI, -209.0 to -10.5] lower FEV1 and an 87% (95% CI, 12% to 213%) higher odds of COPD were observed among individuals in the lowest, relative to highest, airway-to-lung ratio, per 2.4 μg/m3 increment of PM2.5. Conclusions: Ambient air pollution exposure was associated with lower lung function, even at relatively low concentrations. Individuals with dysanaptic lung growth might be particularly susceptible to inhaled ambient air pollutants, especially those at the extremes of dysanapsis.

Keywords: air quality; chronic airflow obstruction; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; computed tomography; pulmonary function test.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Study population, missing data, and exclusions flow diagram. CanCOLD = Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease; CT = computed tomography.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) ambient air pollution concentrations at the residences of the CanCOLD study participants. CanCOLD = Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease; IQR = interquartile range.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Annual average PM2.5 concentrations, CanCOLD study nine-city average and international capital cities. Adapted from IQAir (42). CanCOLD = Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease; PM2.5 = fine particulate matter; WHO = World Health Organization.
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