The effect of air pollution on COVID-19 severity in a sample of patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Background and purpose: Some studies have shown that air pollution, often assessed by thin particulate matter with diameter below 2.5 μg/m3 (PM2.5), may contribute to severe COVID-19 courses, as well as play a role in the onset and evolution of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the impact of air pollution on COVID-19 has never been explored specifically amongst patients with MS (PwMS). This retrospective observational study aims to explore associations between PM2.5 and COVID-19 severity amongst PwMS.
Methods: Data were retrieved from an Italian web-based platform (MuSC-19) which includes PwMS with COVID-19. PM2.5 2016–2018
average concentrations were provided by the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service. Italian patients inserted in the platform
from 15 January 2020 to 9 April 2021 with a COVID-19 positive test were included. Ordered logistic regression models were used to study associations between PM2.5 and COVID-19 severity.
Results: In all, 1087 patients, of whom 13% required hospitalization and 2% were admitted to an intensive care unit or died, were included. Based on the multivariate analysis, higher concentrations of PM2.5 increased the risk of worse COVID-19 course (odds ratio
1.90; p = 0.009).
Conclusions: Even if several other factors explain the unfavourable course of COVID-19 in PwMS, the role of air pollutants must be considered and further investigated.
BERGAMASCHI Roberto;
PONZANO Marta;
SCHIAVETTI Irene;
CAMISCIANO Luca;
CORDIOLI Cinzia;
FILIPPI Massimo;
RADAELLI Marta;
IMMOVILI Paolo;
CAPOBIANCO Marco;
DE ROSSI Nicola;
BRICHETTO Gianpaolo;
COCCO Eleonora;
SCANDELLARI Cinzia;
CAVALLA Paola;
PESCI Ilaria;
ZITO Antonio;
CONFALONIERI Paolo;
MARFIA Girolama Alessandra;
PERINI Paola;
INGLESE Matilde;
TROJANO Maria;
BRESCIA MORRA Vincenzo;
PISONI Enrico;
TEDESCHI Gioacchino;
COMI Giancarlo;
BATTAGLIA Mario Alberto;
PATTI Francesco;
SALVETTI Marco;
SORMANI Maria Pia;
2022-01-12
WILEY
JRC125967
1351-5101 (online),
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.15167,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC125967,
10.1111/ene.15167 (online),
Additional supporting files
| File name | Description | File type | |
|---|
