Short-term effect of particulate matter on lung function and impulse oscillometry system (IOS) parameters of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Beijing, China

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between particulate matter (PM), lung function and Impulse Oscillometry System (IOS) parameters in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and identity effects between different regions in Beijing, China. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we recruited 1348 outpatients who visited hospitals between January 2016 and December 2019. Ambient air pollutant data were obtained from the central monitoring stations nearest the participants’ residential addresses. We analyzed the effect of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM(2.5)) exposure on lung function and IOS parameters using a multiple linear regression model, adjusting for sex, smoking history, education level, age, body mass index (BMI), mean temperature, and relative humidity . RESULTS: The results showed a relationship between PM(2.5), lung function and IOS parameters. An increase of 10 µg/m(3) in PM(2.5) was associated with a decline of 2.083% (95% CI: −3.047 to − 1.103) in forced expiratory volume in one second /predict (FEV(1)%pred), a decline of 193 ml/s (95% CI: −258 to − 43) in peak expiratory flow (PEF), a decline of 0.932% (95% CI: −1.518 to − 0.342) in maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF); an increase of 0.732 Hz (95% CI: 0.313 to 1.148) in resonant frequency (F(res)), an increase of 36 kpa/(ml/s) (95% CI: 14 to 57) in impedance at 5 Hz (Z(5)) and an increase of 31 kpa/(ml/s) (95% CI: 2 to 54) in respiratory impedance at 5 Hz (R(5)). Compared to patients in the central district, those in the southern district had lower FEV(1)/FVC, FEV(1)%pred, PEF, FEF(75%), MMEF, X(5), and higher F(res), Z(5) and R(5) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term exposure to PM(2.5) was associated with reductions in lung function indices and an increase in IOS results in patients with COPD. The heavier the PM(2.5), the more severe of COPD.