Association Between Air Pollution in Lima and the High Incidence of COVID-19: Findings from a Post Hoc Analysis
Preprint
- 6 July 2020
- preprint
- Published by Research Square Platform LLC
Abstract
Background Corona virus disease (COVID-19) originated in China in December 2019. Thereafter, a global logarithmic expansion of the cases has occurred. Some countries have a higher rate of infections despite of early implementation of quarantine. Air pollution could be related to the high susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and the associated case-fatality rates (deaths/cases*100). Lima, Peru has the second highest incidence of COVID-19 in Latin America and it is also one of the cities with highest levels of air pollution in the Region. Methods This study investigated the association of the levels of PM2.5 exposure in the previous years (2010–2016) in 24 districts of Lima with the cases, deaths and case-fatality rates of COVID-19. Results Until June 12, 2020, there were 6,308 deaths and 220,749 SARS-CoV-2 positive cases in Peru. In Lima, the total number of COVID-19 deaths in all metropolitan areas was 2,382. The case-fatality rate at the national level was 2.58% and 1.93% in Lima. Higher PM2.5 levels are associated with higher number of cases and deaths of COVID-19. The case-fatality rate (Deaths/cases*100) did not increase with the increase in PM2.5 levels. A higher number of food markets was associated with higher incidence and mortality of COVID-19 (p < 0.01 for both); these associations persisted when cases (r = 0.49; p < 0.01) and deaths (r = 0.58; p < 0.01) were adjusted by the population density. The association of PM2.5 with cases of COVID-19 was maintained after controlling analysis by age, sex and number of food markers. Conclusions the higher rates of COVID-19 in Metropolitan Lima is attributable, among others, to the increased PM2.5 exposure in the previous years after adjusting for age, sex and number of food markets. Reduction of air pollution since a long term perspective, and social distancing are needed to prevent spreads of virus outbreak.Keywords
Other Versions
- Published version: Version BMC Public Health, 21, preprints
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