The Short-term Effects of Fine Airborne Particulate Matter and Climate on COVID-19 Disease Dynamics

Authors

El Hussain Shamsa, Wayne State UniversityFollow
Kezhong Zhang, Wayne State University

Research Mentor Name

Kezhong Zhang

Research Mentor Email Address

kzhang@med.wayne.edu

Institution / Department

Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics

Document Type

Research Abstract

Research Type

basicbio

Level of Research

no

Abstract

Background: Despite more than 60% of the United States population being fully vaccinated, COVID-19 cases continue to spike in a temporal pattern. These patterns in COVID-19 incidence and mortality may be linked to short-term changes in environmental factors.

Methods: Nationwide, county-wise measurements for COVID-19 cases and deaths, fine-airborne particulate matter (PM_2.5), and maximum temperature were obtained from March 20, 2020 to March 20, 2021. Multivariate Linear Regression was used to analyze the association between environmental factors and COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates in each season. Negative Binomial Regression was used to analyze daily fluctuations of COVID-19 cases and deaths with those of environmental factors in New York, NY.

Results: In Spring 2020, a 1 µg/m³increase in average county PM_2.5 concentration was associated with a 15.7% increase in incidence rate and a 9.3% increase in death rate. In Summer 2020, a 1 K increase in maximum temperature was associated with a 11.5% increase in incidence rate, but a 1.7% decrease in incidence rate in Fall 2020. For each 1 µg/m³and 1 K increase in daily PM2.5 concentration and maximum daily temperature in New York, NY, daily COVID-19 cases increase by 5.2% and decrease by 2.3%, respectively.

Discussion: The effect of PM_2.5 concentration and maximum temperature on COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates varied greatly between different seasons. The temporality of COVID-19 could be linked to the seasonality of these effects. Furthermore, the significant association of daily measurements of environmental factors with COVID-19 cases and deaths warrants further analysis across multiple counties.

Disciplines

Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Computer Sciences | Health and Medical Administration | Health Information Technology | Medical Sciences | Medical Specialties | Medicine and Health Sciences | Multivariate Analysis | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Statistical Methodology | Statistical Models | Statistics and Probability

Recommended Citation

Shamsa, El Hussain and Zhang, Kezhong, "The Short-term Effects of Fine Airborne Particulate Matter and Climate on COVID-19 Disease Dynamics" (2022). Medical Student Research Symposium. 130.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/som_srs/130