About 10% of deaths among ever-employed persons aged 15 and older were associated with COPD in 2020, according to research published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Researchers analyzed the most recent 2020 multiple cause-of-death data for 46 states and New York City to describe COPD mortality among this patient population. A total of 10.3% of the more than 3 million decedents had COPD listed on their death certificate. Women, White individuals, and non-Hispanic or Latino individuals had the highest age-adjusted COPD death rates per 100,000 ever-employed persons (101.3, 116.9, and 115.8, respectively). The three industries with the highest proportionate mortality ratios were mining, accommodation and food services, and construction (1.33, 1.28, and 1.23, respectively). Food preparation and serving related, healthcare support, and construction and extraction were the three occupations with the highest proportionate mortality ratios (1.30, 1.29, and 1.29, respectively).
Air Pollution Tied to Multimorbidity Status, Severity
Exposure to air pollution is associated with having multimorbid, multiorgan conditions, according to a study published in Frontiers in Public Health. Researchers examined associations between long-term air pollution exposure and multimorbidity status, severity, and patterns using data from 156,395 participants in the UK Biobank. Multimorbidity (two or more conditions) was assessed for 41 physical and mental conditions at baseline (2006-2010). Higher exposures to particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were associated with multimorbidity status in a dose-dependent manner. For the highest air pollution quartile versus the lowest quartile, associations were strongest (PM2.5: adjusted OR, 1.21; NO2: aOR, 1.19). A similar dose response association was seen for air pollutant exposures and multimorbidity severity scores. Eleven multimorbidity patterns were identified, which were strongest for comparisons between quartile 4 and quartile 1 of air pollution exposure and included neurological morbidities (stroke, epilepsy, alcohol/substance dependency; PM2.5: aOR, 1.31; NO2: aOR, 1.33) and respiratory patterns (COPD, asthma; PM2.5: aOR, 1.24; NO2: aOR, 1.26).
