Long-Term Particulate Matter Exposure and Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in South Korea

Rationale: Particulate matter (PM) exposure exacerbates health outcomes by causing lung damage. Objective: To investigate whether prior exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 was associated with clinical outcomes among patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: Data from the nationwide registration database of the National Health Insurance and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in South Korea were used. The study included adult patients who were admitted to monitoring centers or hospitals between October 8, 2020, and December 31, 2021, after COVID-19 confirmation. AirKorea database, which compiles air pollutant data from 642 stations in 162 cities and counties across South Korea, was used to extract data on PM levels. Average values of monthly exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 from previous year of hospital admission due to COVID-19 to the date of confirmation of COVID-19 were calculated and used to define PM exposures of patients with COVID-19. Results: In total, 322,289 COVID-19 patients were included, and 4,633 (1.4%) died during hospitalization. After adjusting for covariates, a 1 mcg/m3 increase in PM10 and PM2.5 exposure was associated with 4% (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.05; P<0.001) and 6% (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04–1.07; P<0.001) increase in the risk of in-hospital mortality, respectively. Additionally, a 1 mcg/m3 increase in PM10 and PM2.5 was associated with 5% (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.04–1.07; P < 0.001) and 8% (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.06–1.10; P<0.001) increase in the risks of requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mechanical ventilation, respectively. Conclusions: PM10 and PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased in-hospital mortality and the need for ICU admission and mechanical ventilation among COVID-19 patients in South Korea.