Sex-specific associations between air pollutants and asthma prevalence in Japanese adults: a population-based study

This study investigated the association between air pollutants and asthma prevalence in male and female Japanese adults. In this retrospective cross-sectional analysis, annual mean exposure levels of air pollutants, specifically nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter with a median aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), were assessed at a local monitoring site. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for genetic and/or lifestyle factors, were used to explore the association between air pollutants and asthma, with stratification by sex. A total of 1,497 participants aged ≥40 years were included. Their mean age was 65.9 ± 12.4 years, with 847 being women. Overall, 91 participants were diagnosed with asthma. In the multivariable model, ambient exposure levels of NO2 and PM2.5 were significantly associated with asthma in women but not in men. This study highlights sex as a significant determinant of the link between air pollutants and asthma exacerbation, particularly among female Japanese adults.

本研究探讨了日本成年男女大气污染物与哮喘患病率之间的关联。本项回顾性横断面分析中，研究人员于当地监测站点评估了大气污染物（具体为二氧化氮（NO₂）及空气动力学当量直径≤2.5μm的颗粒物（PM2.5））的年平均暴露水平。本研究采用校正了遗传及/或生活方式因素的多变量logistic回归模型，按性别分层分析大气污染物与哮喘之间的关联。本研究共纳入1497名年龄≥40岁的受试者，平均年龄为65.9±12.4岁，其中女性847名。总体而言，共计91名受试者被诊断为哮喘。多变量模型分析结果显示，二氧化氮与PM2.5的环境暴露水平与女性哮喘患病风险呈显著相关，但与男性无显著关联。本研究强调，性别是大气污染物与哮喘加重之间关联的重要调节因素，在日本成年女性群体中尤为突出。