Associations between air quality, meteorological variables, and respiratory disease hospitalizations

Air pollution plays a crucial role in environmental health and is linked to various respiratory diseases. This study aims to investigate the associations between air quality, meteorological variables, and the number of hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases in adults and the elderly. The study was conducted in Novo Hamburgo, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, RS. Pollutants such as NO₂, CO, O₃, PM2.5, and PM₁₀ were analyzed, along with average temperature, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, and relative humidity. Health information on respiratory diseases was obtained from the Ministry of Health. A significant correlation was observed between air quality, meteorological variables, and hospital admissions. The results indicate that higher concentrations of atmospheric pollutants (NO₂, CO), lower temperatures, and higher relative humidity are associated with an increase in hospitalizations for respiratory diseases. These findings high light the need for public policies and expanded air quality monitoring to mitigate the health impacts of pollution.