Air Pollution, Climate Change Exacerbate COPD, Asthma

Air pollution and meteorological conditions can significantly exacerbate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to new research.1

“Climate change contributes to significant shifts in the occurrence of some diseases. Diseases that thus far have been characteristic of tropical areas become to appear in regions of a moderate climate, while diseases typical of particular regions may change their patterns of occurrence. These shifts have serious implications for public health and require the adaptation of disease prevention and control strategies in order to effectively manage new epidemiological threats,” Anna Romaszko-Wojtowicz, MD, PhD, Department of Pulmonology, School of Public Health, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Jagiellońska, Poland, and colleagues wrote.1

Romaszko-Wojtowicz and colleagues conducted a retrospective study on medical records of patients hospitalized at the Warmia and Mazury Centre for Pulmonary Diseases in Olsztyn, Poland from 2012–2021 for exacerbated asthma and COPD. They analyzed data including meteorological factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, precipitation, and levels of PM2.5 and PM10. They used the Humidex measure to assess thermal discomfort in the context of various meteorological and thermal seasons.

The investigators found that there was seasonal variability in asthma and COPD exacerbations. During winter, poorer air quality due to higher PM2.5 and PM10 levels was correlated with increased exacerbations (r = 0.283, P <.05; r = 0.491, P <.001). In summer, discomfort from meteorological conditions led to more hospital admissions. There was a strong correlation between and admissions for obstructive diseases (R2 = 0.956 for asthma; R2 = 0.659 for COPD), with statistically significantly higher admission rates in July and August (P <.05).1

“The results of our study highlight the need for further research covering different geographical regions and longer observation periods. A comprehensive approach, taking into account both air pollution factors and meteorological conditions, will enable the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies that will improve the quality of life of patients with asthma and COPD and reduce the burden on healthcare systems,” Romaszko-Wojtowicz and colleagues concluded.1

The new research may shed more light on the relationship between climate change and exacerbation of pulmonary diseases such as COPD. Notably, updates added in the 2025 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Report included a section of the effects of global climate change. This portion is aimed at addressing such impacts, with extreme weather such as heat and cold having been shown to affect COPD exacerbations as well as hospitalizations.2

Furthermore, the report corroborated that higher outdoor temperatures were shown to be linked with an increased risk of hospitalization for those with COPD. Conversely, lower outdoor temperatures were linked with a risk increase for exacerbations. This new section on environmental impacts highlights the combined risks of air pollution and heat, which were demonstrated to elevate all-cause mortality in patients who are affected.

Another big focus of the new report highlighted cardiovascular risk in COPD. Cardiovascular issues were noted as a significant concern in COPD management, affecting even patients deemed to be stable. This new section includes a note that those with COPD may often also suffer from cardiovascular issues, though these may be ignored by an attending clinician based upon his or her area of expertise. Exacerbations of COPD, described as ECOPD, were shown to be linked with increased risk of cardiovascular issues, potentially resulting from lung vessel compression, inflammation, or hypoxemia.

REFERENCES

1. Romaszko-Wojtowicz, A., Dragańska, E., Doboszyńska, A. et al. Impact of seasonal biometeorological conditions and particulate matter on asthma and COPD hospital admissions. Sci Rep 15, 450 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84739-9

2. Global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease 2025 report. https://goldcopd.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GOLD-2025-Report-v1.0-12Nov2024_WMV-Draft.pdf. Date accessed: November 17, 2024.