Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the association between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and anemia among women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries, and to determine the variation in effects across different population subgroups.
Methods The data of 1 074 790 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) from 40 low- and middle-income countries collected through the Demographic and Health Surveys program in 2005—2019 funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development were used, including hemoglobin concentration, geographic coordinates, demographic characteristics, family factors, and socioeconomic status. The mean annual PM2.5 concentration and mean annual normalized difference vegetation index were assigned to the coordinates of household clusters to characterize individual exposure. The association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and anemia was quantified using a generalized linear mixed model.
Results The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of anemia were 1.104 (95% CI: 1.096-1.112) for each interquartile range increase in mean annual PM2.5 concentration. The strength of association was significantly higher in younger women with the OR being 1.121 (95% CI: 1.107-1.136), and lower in underweight women, obese women, or women living in rural areas with the ORs being 1.084 (95% CI: 1.065-1.103), 1.034 (95% CI: 1.011-1.059), and 1.100 (95% CI: 1.090-1.110), respectively. The effective value of PM2.5 exposure was relatively higher in the richer or richest women, and the ORs were 1.134 (95% CI: 1.118-1.150) and 1.131 (95% CI: 1.112-1.151), respectively.
Conclusion Long-term exposure to PM2.5 is significantly associated with increased prevalence of anemia in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries. The finding suggests that effective energy conservation and emission reduction measures should be taken to further reduce the concentration of PM2.5, which has significant public health implications for the early prevention of anemia in the corresponding population.