Impact of Air Pollution on Mortality in Medicare Population
Author Information
Author(s): Zeger Scott L., Dominici Francesca, McDermott Aidan, Samet Jonathan M.
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Hypothesis
What is the relative risk of death associated with long-term exposure to PM2.5 in the U.S. elderly population?
Conclusion
Chronic exposure to PM2.5 was associated with increased mortality in the eastern and central regions of the U.S., but not in the western region.
Supporting Evidence
- A 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 is associated with a 6.8% increase in mortality in the eastern U.S.
- A 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 is associated with a 13.2% increase in mortality in the central U.S.
- No significant association was found in the western U.S. or for individuals aged 85 and older.
Takeaway
Breathing in tiny particles from air pollution can make older people more likely to die, especially in some parts of the U.S.
Methodology
The study linked PM2.5 monitoring data to Medicare billing claims by ZIP code, analyzing mortality rates among 13.2 million participants over six years.
Potential Biases
Potential for ecologic bias and confounding factors due to lack of individual-level data.
Limitations
The study may be affected by ecologic bias due to using aggregate rather than individual-level air pollution exposure.
Participant Demographics
Participants were Medicare enrollees aged 65 and older, residing in urban areas across the U.S.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 4.9–8.7% for eastern region; 95% CI, 9.5–16.9 for central region
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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