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August 19, 2026Public Health ChallengesOpen Access

Health Under Haze: Symptom Burden Among Adult Outpatients During the 2024‐2025 Winter Smog Season in Lahore, Pakistan

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Authors

DADr. Mirza Ameer Faizan AliBIBushra IftikharSHSyed Zeeshan Haider

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Overview

Cross-sectional study reveals extensive multisystem symptom burden among adult outpatients during winter smog episodes, highlighting the urgent need for robust environmental health interventions.

Key Points

  • To assess the multisystem symptom burden and associated risk factors among adult hospital outpatients during a severe winter smog period in an urban setting.
  • Conducted a cross-sectional study of 400 adult outpatients at a tertiary hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, between October 2024 and January 2025.
  • Administered a structured questionnaire covering demographic, behavioral, occupational, and clinical symptom data alongside ambient air quality monitoring (AQI, PM2.5, PM10, CO).
  • Analyzed symptom burden using descriptive statistics, multivariable regression models, and an exploratory composite vulnerability index.
  • Nearly all outpatients (98%) reported at least one symptom, predominantly shortness of breath (74%), eye irritation (56%), cough (53%), and sore throat (50%) amid sustained multi-pollutant exposure (mean PM2.5 = 96 µg/m³, mean AQI = 180).
  • Higher cumulative vulnerability (p < 0.01) and current smoking (IRR 1.15, 95% CI 1.00–1.32) were significantly associated with increased symptom counts.
  • Routine mask use did not show a statistically significant association with lower symptom burden (IRR 0.96, 95% CI 0.84–1.09).

Cite This Study

Ali et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a85638803308d306e2d6b77https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70349
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