Causal Relationship Between Particulate Matter 2.5 and Infectious Diseases: A Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Study

Overview

Journal Heliyon

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2024 Jan 1

PMID 38163134

Authors

Youjie Zeng

Ke Pang

Si Cao

Guoxin Lin

Juan Tang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Previous observational studies suggested a correlation between particulate matter 2.5 (PM) and infectious diseases, but causality remained uncertain. This study utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate causal relationships between PM concentrations and various infectious diseases (COVID-19 infection, hospitalized COVID-19, very severe COVID-19, urinary tract infection, bacterial pneumonia, and intestinal infection).

Methods: Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was the primary method for evaluating causal associations. For significant causal estimates, multiple sensitivity tests were further performed: (i) three additional MR methods (MR-Egger, weighted median, and maximum likelihood method) for supplementing IVW; (ii) Cochrane's Q test for assessing heterogeneity; (iii) MR-Egger intercept test and MR-PRESSO global test for evaluating horizontal pleiotropy; (iv) leave-one-out sensitivity test for determining the stability.

Results: PM concentration significantly increased the risk of hospitalized COVID-19 (OR = 1.91, 95 % CI: 1.06-3.45, = 0.032) and very severe COVID-19 (OR = 3.29, 95 % CI: 1.48-7.35, = 3.62E-03). However, no causal effect was identified for PM concentration on other infectious diseases ( > 0.05). Furthermore, various sensitivity tests demonstrated the reliability of significant causal relationships.

Conclusions: Overall, lifetime elevated PM concentration increases the risk of hospitalized COVID-19 and very severe COVID-19. Therefore, controlling air pollution may help mitigate COVID-19 progression.

Citing Articles

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Zhang M, Wang J, Huo R, Liang Q, Liu J Medicine (Baltimore). 2024; 103(18):e38050.

PMID: 38701275 PMC: 11062689. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038050.

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