Associations of PM2.5 exposure with long COVID severity:insights from the P4O2 COVID-19 study

Le résumé fourni par la source

Long COVID, affecting 10-20% of COVID-19 cases, is characterized by persistent symptoms, including fatigue and dyspnea. The specific impact of exposure to fine particulate matter(PM2.5) on the severity of long COVID is underexplored. This study aims to elucidate the relationships between personal and ambient PM2.5 exposure and long COVID severity. The P4O2 COVID-19 study included 95 long COVID patients aged 40-65 years in the Netherlands and assessed lung function, fatigue, quality of life(QoL) and persistent symptoms 3-6 months post-infection. Personal and ambient PM2.5 were measured in the participant’s homes and long-term ambient PM2.5 exposure was estimated. Linear and logistic regression models analyzed associations between PM2.5 exposure and markers for long COVID severity. Measurements were collected from 79 participants’ homes. The observed trends, while not statistically significant, appeared to be somewhat more pronounced for long-term ambient PM2.5 exposure. After adjusting for individual-level confounders and pandemic characteristics, a 1µg/m3 increase in ambient PM2.5 was associated with a -1.45%(95%CI:-9.85,6.95) decline in FEV1 predicted, a -0.07(95%CI:-0.18,0.04), decrease in QoL score and a 0.31(95%CI:-0.41,1.02) increase in fatigue scores. Adjusted ORs and 95%CIs for a 1µg/m3 increase in ambient PM2.5 were 2.79(0.77-11.35) for respiratory symptoms and 2.23(0.69-8.20) for cardiovascular symptoms. While not statistically significant, the trends observed highlight the potential impact of PM2.5 on shaping the progression of long COVID. Larger cohorts are necessary to validate these trends, ultimately contributing to targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

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