Ambient air pollution and COVID-19 incidence during four 2020-2021 case surges.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Air pollution exposure may make people more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. However, previous studies in this area mostly focused on infection before May 2020 and long-term exposure.

Objective

To assess both long-term and short-term exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 incidence across four case surges from 03/1/2020 to 02/28/2021.

Methods

The cohort included 4.6 million members from a large integrated health care system in southern California with comprehensive electronic medical records (EMR). COVID-19 cases were identified from EMR. Incidence of COVID-19 was computed at the census tract-level among members. Prior 1-month and 1-year averaged air pollutant levels (PM_2.5, NO₂, and O₃) at the census tract-level were estim

SUBMITTER: Sidell MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8767981 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature