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Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 42774110 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1925502

Association of air pollution with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: anemia-related outcomes and exploratory genetic susceptibility analyses.

Front Med (Lausanne) 13:1925502

Authors: Chi-Thien Dinh, Yueh-Lun Lee, Xuan Ngoc Tran, Kang-Yun Lee, Kian Fan Chung, Jer-Hwa Chang, Hsiao-Chi Chuang

Affiliations

  • International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho, Vietnam.
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
  • Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
  • Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
  • School of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Air pollution contributes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but its associations with anemia-related outcomes in COPD and the modifying role of genetic susceptibility remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations of ambient air pollution with COPD and anemia-related outcomes, and to assess the potential modifying role of genetic susceptibility.

METHODS

This Taiwan Biobank case-control study included 7,566 cases and 22,698 age- and sex-matched controls. COPD was defined by presence of airflow obstruction or self-reported emphysema/chronic bronchitis, and anemia by World Health Organization hemoglobin cutoffs. Residential 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month exposures to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 µm (PM 10) and ≤2.5 µm (PM 2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO 2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O 3) were estimated at recruitment. Logistic regression was used for binary outcomes, and linear regression for spirometric and hematologic traits. Models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking experience, and genetic principal components in genetic analyses.

RESULTS

Higher PM 10, PM 2.5, NO 2, NO, NOx, SO 2, and CO exposures were associated with higher COPD risk. Each 10 µg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 was associated with COPD at 1 month [odds ratio (OR) = 1.252, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.222-1.283] and 12 months (OR = 1.642, 95% CI: 1.588-1.699). Positive associations were observed when participants with COPD and anemia were compared with controls with anemia, whereas the within-COPD anemia analysis showed no consistent positive association between ambient air pollution and anemia status. Hemoglobin polygenic risk score showed nominal interactions with SO 2 for anemia risk in COPD across all exposure periods (interaction ORs = 1.062-1.093). In the COPD genome-wide association study, rs4808295-A in ZNF100 was associated with lower COPD risk (OR = 0.865, p = 1.63 × 10 -10) and remained stable in sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Residential air pollution exposure across the evaluated pre-recruitment averaging periods was associated with COPD. The nominal HGB PRS-SO 2 interaction suggests heterogeneity in hematologic responses according to genetic susceptibility, whereas the within-COPD anemia analysis did not show a consistent positive association between ambient air pollution and anemia status.

MeSH

Anemia, Air Pollution, Genetic Predisposition To Disease, Air, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Environmental Pollution, Sex, Lung Diseases, Lung Diseases, Obstructive, Particulate Matter