The exposure to air pollution was associated with more inflammation in COPD patients

Short-term exposure to NO2 was associated with increased levels of biomarkers of inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, particularly in former smokers.

Systemic inflammation in COPD patients is associated with increased mortality, more frequent exacerbation, more comorbidities (coincidence of other diseases like cardiovascular diseases) in COPD patients. However, the origin of systemic inflammation in patients with COPD is already unclear. These findings could provide a new insight into the mechanisms of systemic inflammation in COPD.

Researchers of CREAL investigated the impact of exposure to ambient air pollution (NO2 and PM2.5) on systemic biomarkers of inflammation in 242 clinically stable COPD patients in Barcelona, Spain (2004–2006). This study did not show an association between PM2.5 and systemic inflammation, but it found short-term exposure to NO2 is associated with more systematic inflammation in these patients.

Reference: Dadvand P, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Agusti A, de Batlle J, Benet M, Beelen R, Cirach M, Martinez D, Hoek G, Basagana X, Ferrer A, Ferrer J, Rodriguez-Roisin R, Sauleda J, Guerra S, Anto JM, Garcia-Aymerich J. Air pollution and biomarkers of systemic inflammation and tissue repair in COPD patients. Eur Respir J (in press)