Study on asthma and hypertension associated with air pollution in the villages near industrial area at the western Tabriz

Abstract

Introduction: Today, air pollution is as one of the most important environmental challenges especially in megacities in both developing and developed countries. One of the significant effects of air pollution on human health is the effects on respiratory system. Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases such as asthma, respiratory infections and hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between air pollution and the asthma and hypertension prevalence in rural residents of industrial zone located in western Tabriz. Materials and methods: The target population in this study includes the residents of Kojabad as case plus Alvar and Asenjan as control. Sympatologic international questionnaire (ISSAC) plus with cases recorded in health system were used to assess asthma prevalence. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured to assess hypertension prevalence. The effect of main confounders such as smoking, exposure to tobacco smoke, working at dust and gases contaminated areas and … were adjusted in the study. Air pollutants including CO, NOX, SO2, PM10, O3 and TVOCs were measured in March, April, July and September, 2015 at dry weather conditions. Results: Based on measurement results, the concentrations of monitored air pollutants were higher in the case than control areas. The results of univariate analysis on data recorded in local health systems indicated that the risk of high blood presure in people over 17 years old was significantly higher in Kojabad than Alvar (OR = 0.643; Pv = 0.016) and Asenjan (OR = 0.568; Pv = 0.002). In addition, the results of univariate analysis on the consequence of having 3 or more symptoms of asthma in people over 17 showed that the risk was higher (nonsignificant) in Kojabad than Alvar (OR = 0.606; Pv = 0.095) and Asenjan (OR = 0.268; Pv = 750). The results of univariate analysis over people 11 to 17 years old on the consequence of having 3 or more symptoms of asthma indicated that the risk was higher in Kojabad than Alvar (OR = 0.134; Pv = 0.056) and Asenjan (OR = 0.434; Pv = 0.210). The results of univariate analysis over people under 10 years old on the consequence of having 3 or more symptoms of asthma indicatedII that the risk was higher in Kojabad than Alvar (OR =0.523; Pv =0.246) and Asenjan (OR = 0.729; Pv = 0.549). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated significant correlation between air pollution and the consequences of asthma and hypertension in the residents at industrial area of western Tabriz