INTERPLAY OF SMOG AND HEALTH CONDITIONS: A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE ON RESPIRATORY, HYPERTENSIVE, AND CARDIOVASCULAR MORBIDITY

Smog as a new form of air pollution has proved to be critical in posing various effects on the general population's health. The relationship between smog and the respiratory, hypertensive, and cardiovascular health of adults forms the focus of this research. The study is based on comparative parameters of demography, blood, and clinical characteristics between smog-exposed and non-exposed individuals. The survey involved 1000 cross-sectional participants: smog-exposed (500) and non-exposed (500). Standard clinical and biochemical protocols were employed in the collection of demographic data, hematological data, and respiratory health status. Quantitative data comparisons were made using descriptive statistics to determine mean differences and, consequently, statistical significance. There was no significant difference noted according to age and gender but the smog exposed had higher BMI (27.82±4.21kg/sq.m, p≤0.024) and a higher proportion in low socioeconomic strata (40.26%, p≤0.044). Serum biochemical analysis identified that white blood cells and total cholesterol were significantly increased in the exposed group (7.22±2.31×10⁹/L, p=0.025; 197.53±40.16 mg/dL, p=0.025) respectively. Of note, we found a reduction in the levels of HDL (39.62±7.83 mg/dl; p≤0.041) and an increase in triglyceride levels (178.24±38.66 mg/dl; p≤0.036) in smog-exposed participants. The respiratory health data showed a raised prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases including asthma (22.67%, p≤0.018) and chronic bronchitis (19.84%, p≤0.022). Hypertension and cardiovascular conditions were also seen more frequently among the subjects affected by smog. The article brings out the severe ill effects of smog, with the focus being on the effects of smog exposure on morbidity among people in terms of respiratory diseases, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. These results underscore the role of directed public health strategies and policies in correcting air pollution concentrations while protecting vulnerable groups.