Differential associations of fine and coarse particulate air pollution with cause-specific pneumonia mortality: A nationwide, individual-level, case-crossover study.

Background: The connections between fine particulate matter (PM) and coarse particulate matter (PM) and daily mortality of viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia were unclear.

Objectives: To distinguish the connections between PM and PM and daily mortality due to viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia.

Methods: Using a comprehensive national death registry encompassing all areas of mainland China, we conducted a case-crossover investigation from 2013 to 2019 at an individual level. Residential daily particle concentrations were evaluated using satellite-based models with a spatial resolution of 1 km. To analyze the data, we employed the conditional logistic regression model in conjunction with polynomial distributed lag models.

Results: We included 221,507 pneumonia deaths in China. Every interquartile range (IQR) elevation in concentrations of PM (lag 0-2 d, 37.6 μg/m) was associated with higher magnitude of mortality for viral pneumonia (3.03%) than bacterial pneumonia (2.14%), whereas the difference was not significant (p-value for difference = 0.38). An IQR increase in concentrations of PM (lag 0-2 d, 28.4 μg/m) was also linked to higher magnitude of mortality from viral pneumonia (3.06%) compared to bacterial pneumonia (2.31%), whereas the difference was not significant (p-value for difference = 0.52). After controlling for gaseous pollutants, their effects were all stable; however, with mutual adjustment, the associations of PM remained, and those of PM were no longer statistically significant. Greater magnitude of associations was noted in individuals aged 75 years and above, as well as during the cold season.

Conclusion: This nationwide study presents compelling evidence that both PM and PM exposures could increase pneumonia mortality of viral and bacterial causes, highlighting the more robust effects of PM and somewhat higher sensitivity of viral pneumonia.