Association of indoor solid fuel use and long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 with sarcopenia in China: A nationwide cohort study

Wenming Shi; Tiantian Zhang; Yongsheng Yu; Li Luo

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140356

Association of indoor solid fuel use and long-term exposure to ambient PM_2.5 with sarcopenia in China: A nationwide cohort study

Chemosphere. 2023 Dec:344:140356. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140356. Epub 2023 Oct 4.

Authors

Wenming Shi¹, Tiantian Zhang², Yongsheng Yu³, Li Luo⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: wmshi16@fudan.edu.cn.
² School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China; Fudan University Center for Population and Development Policy Studies, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China; Fudan Institute on Ageing, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
³ Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China.
⁴ School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. Electronic address: liluo@fudan.edu.cn.

PMID: 37802484
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140356

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the association between air pollution exposure and sarcopenia in Asia. We aimed to investigate the associations of indoor solid fuel use and long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) with sarcopenia in China.

Methods: Using a nationally population-representative study, 12,723 participants aged at least 45 years across 125 cities from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were enrolled in 2011, and further 3110 participants were followed up until 2013. Sarcopenia status was classified according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Household fuel types used for heating and cooking were assessed using a standard questionnaire. Ambient annual PM_2.5 was estimated using satellite-based spatiotemporal models. Multinomial logistic regression as well as the multiplicative interaction and additive interaction analysis were used to explore the associations of indoor solid fuel and ambient PM_2.5 with different status of sarcopenia.

Results: Of the 12,723 participants, 6071 (47.7%) were men. In the cross-sectional analyses, compared with clean fuel, using solid fuel for heating and cooking, separately or simultaneously, was significantly associated with a higher risk of both possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia. Each 10 μg/m³ increment of PM_2.5 was positively related to possible sarcopenia (adjusted odds ratio, [aOR] 1.04, 1.02-1.07) and sarcopenia (1.06, 1.01-1.12). We found a significant interaction between solid fuel use for heating and ambient PM_2.5 exposure with possible sarcopenia. During a two-year follow-up, solid fuel use was associated with incident possible sarcopenia (aOR 1.59, 1.17-2.15). These associations did not differ by sex and age, while participants living in a house with poor cleanliness might have a higher risk of sarcopenia.

Conclusions: Indoor solid fuel use and long-term exposure to ambient PM_2.5 were associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia among Chinese adults. These findings provide implications for promoting healthy aging by reducing air pollution.

Keywords: Air pollution; Cooking; Fine particulate matter; Heating; Sarcopenia; Solid fuel.

MeSH terms

Adult
Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor* / analysis
China / epidemiology
Cohort Studies
Cooking
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Particulate Matter / analysis
Sarcopenia* / epidemiology
Sarcopenia* / etiology

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter