Long-term exposure to air pollution tied to higher risk of physical disability, study finds

Older adults who had experienced prolonged exposure to air pollution were at higher risk of transitioning into more severe states of physical disability, according to a February study published in JAMA Network Open. 

The study observed 29,790 adults older than 50 years from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) who were followed up for nearly 20 years and participated in at least two interviews between 2000 and 2016. Researchers measured the outdoor 10-year average ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM) at each respondent’s residential addresses.

The results showed that disability progression events occurred during 15,653 observations (15%) and the most frequently observed physical transitions were from healthy to physical function limitations and physical function limitations to ADL disability. Higher particulate matter concentrations were also associated with greater hazards of transitioning from a state of no physical function limitations to any physical function limitation and ADL disability. 

“Our results suggest that reducing certain key air pollutants may delay the onset of physical function limitations and ADL disability, as well as lessen the severity of physical disability even after the process begun, thereby shedding light on future regulations and policies in targeting interventions to control health care expenses and achieve the goal of healthy aging,” authors said.