Chronic traffic-related air pollution and stress interact to predict biologic and clinical outcomes in asthma
2008
Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Stress: Effects on Asthma
Sample size: 73
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Jane E. Clougherty, Laura D. Kubzansky
Primary Institution: Harvard School of Public Health
Hypothesis
Social stressors influence responsiveness to environmental pollution.
Conclusion
Chronic stress was associated with asthma symptoms only in low nitrogen dioxide areas.
Supporting Evidence
- Chronic stress was linked to asthma symptoms in low nitrogen dioxide areas.
- Acute and chronic stress have different effects on health.
- Timing of stress and pollution exposure is important for understanding health impacts.
- Spatial factors can confound the relationship between stress and pollution.
Takeaway
Stress can make asthma worse, but only if you live in places with low air pollution.
Potential Biases
Potential for spatial autocorrelation and confounding due to socioeconomic status.
Limitations
The study did not consider age-related asthma characteristics or the adequacy of medical treatment.
Participant Demographics
Participants were asthmatic children aged 9-18 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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