Health effects linked to PM2.5, have been extensively studied in developed countries of Europe and N. America. However, little has been done in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. This study evaluated the morbidity risk for cardiovascular (CVD) and respiratory (RD) diseases, associated with PM2.5 exposure in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 24-h PM2.5 sampling was conducted at 3 sites for 6 weeks quarterly from Apr 8th, 2013-Feb 18th, 2014 with simultaneous hospital data collection. The relative risks (RRs) for cardiopulmonary morbidity at different moving averages (MAs) of lagged exposures were estimated using a generalized linear time-series model. Elevated risks for RD were associated with recent PM2.5 exposures (0-2 days). RD prevalence was highest in children 0-14 years. Overall, RD morbidity risk ranged from 1.081 (CI: 1.005-1.162) to 1.096 (CI: 1.023-1.173) at MAs_2-4; male, 1.081 (CI: 1.019-1.146) to 1.087 (CI: 1.020-1.159) at MAs_2-3, and female, 1.086 (CI: 1.007-1.172) to 1.093 (CI: 1.017-1.175) at MAs_2-4. Generally, females 0-14 years were the most at risk for RDs with RR = 1.097 (CI: 1.025-1.174) to 1.148 (CI: 1.049-1.257). CVD morbidity risk was highest in ER visits with overall RR = 1.057 (CI: 1.005-1.111) to 1.137 (CI: 1.065-1.213) across all MAs; male, 1.060 (CI: 1.007-1.204) to 1.131 (CI: 1.060-1.208); female, 1.065 (CI: 1.008-1.125) to 1.116 (CI: 1.045-1.192). PM2.5 exposure showed significantly increased cardiopulmonary morbidity risk, accentuating the severe health effects associated with elevated PM2.5 in Jeddah. Overall, females (0-14 years) were more at risk for RD morbidity than males. CVD morbidity risk was relatively higher in males than females, with highest risk observed in age-groups above 40 years.
Keywords: Cardiopulmonary morbidity; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; PM(2.5) exposure; Relative risk.
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