Has the short-term effect of black smoke exposure on pneumonia mortality been underestimated because hospitalisation is ignored: findings from a case-crossover study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Short-term associations have been demonstrated between air pollution and respiratory mortality including pneumonia. Studies typically estimate exposure based only on place of residence, yet many are in hospital prior to death. This study investigates lag length and tests the hypothesis that the effect of 'black smoke' is greater when restricted to pneumonia deaths in the community - Community Deaths from Pneumonia.

Methods

A time-stratified case-crossover design using conditional logistic regression estimated the daily percentage increase in risk of pneumonia mortality in relation to 'black smoke' in the preceding 30 days. Cases were pneumonia deaths in Edinburgh 1981-1996. Multiple 'control' periods, were defined using the same weekdays for the same month as the

SUBMITTER: Gittins M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4226206 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature