Ambient Air Pollution and Risk of <scp>ARDS</scp> and Mortality in Moderate to Severe <scp>COVID</scp> ‐19

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ambient air pollution is known to exacerbate respiratory illnesses. However, its impact on COVID-19 outcomes remains underexplored. We investigated the association between ambient air pollution and outcomes in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. METHODS: ) was assessed over short-term (3-day) and long-term (3-year) periods. The risks of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 30-day mortality were evaluated using models adjusted for clinical and meteorological factors. Pollutant exposure was analysed both as quartiles and continuous variables to estimate effects per unit increase. RESULTS: HR 1.14) exposure were additionally associated with increased risk. These associations were consistent in quartile-based analyses. CONCLUSION: Both short- and long-term exposure to ambient air pollution were associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes, including ARDS and mortality. CO, often overlooked in pollution surveillance, showed the most consistent impact. These findings highlight the importance of air quality in pandemic preparedness and public health policy.

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Publication Details

Journal
Respirology
Published
2026-04-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/resp.70250
Primary Topic
COVID-19 impact on air quality
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Ambient Air Pollution and Risk of ARDS and Mortality in Moderate to Severe COVID ‐19

Hye Seon Kang, Tai Joon An, Chin Kook Rhee, J.H. Lee et al.
Respirology
COVID-19 impact on air quality
article

Ambient Air Pollution and Risk of ARDS and Mortality in Moderate to Severe COVID ‐19

Hye Seon Kang, Tai Joon An, Chin Kook Rhee, J.H. Lee, Hyonsoo Joo, Myoungin Shin, Hyung Woo Kim, Yeon Hee Park, Chang Dong Yeo, Jong Min Lee, Shin Young Kim, Seohyun Kim
article en

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ambient air pollution is known to exacerbate respiratory illnesses. However, its impact on COVID-19 outcomes remains underexplored. We investigated the association between ambient air pollution and outcomes in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. METHODS: ) was assessed over short-term (3-day) and long-term (3-year) periods. The risks of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 30-day mortality were evaluated using models adjusted for clinical and meteorological factors. Pollutant exposure was analysed both as quartiles and continuous variables to estimate effects per unit increase. RESULTS: HR 1.14) exposure were additionally associated with increased risk. These associations were consistent in quartile-based analyses. CONCLUSION: Both short- and long-term exposure to ambient air pollution were associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes, including ARDS and mortality. CO, often overlooked in pollution surveillance, showed the most consistent impact. These findings highlight the importance of air quality in pandemic preparedness and public health policy.

Respirology
Agency for Defense Development (KR), St. Mary's Hospital (US), The Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary's Hospital (KR), The Catholic University of Korea Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital (KR), The Catholic University of Korea Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital (KR), The Catholic University of Korea Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital (KR), St. Mary's Hospital (US), The Catholic University of Korea Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital (KR), Korea Telecom (South Korea) (KR), The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (KR)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
COVID-19 impact on air quality
DOISourceOpenAlex
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