Citation

Pedde M, Szpiro AA, Adar SD. Am. J. Epidemiol. 2017; 186(5): 564-572.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/aje/kwx130

PMID

28520888

Abstract

Existing epidemiological research on traffic largely neglects localized fluctuations. We leveraged finely-resolved congestion data to investigate short-term associations with mortality in near-road communities. We identified all non-accidental, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory deaths (2009-2013) within 1 km of a Puget Sound highway. Using a case-crossover design, we examined the association between congestion 0-150, 151-300, and 301-1000 m upwind of a decedent's home and mortality, adjusting for meteorology, holidays, and flu. Among 9,449 deaths, we observed higher odds of cerebrovascular and respiratory mortality with greater upwind congestion, especially congestion near to a decedent's home. For each 10 minute-kilometer increase in upwind congestion within 150 and 151-300 m, the odds of cerebrovascular mortality were 1.08 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88, 1.33) and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.12) times higher, respectively. We observed similar patterns for respiratory mortality with a 1.06 (95% CI: 0.76, 1.50) and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.10) times higher odds of death with greater upwind congestion within 150 and 151-300 m, respectively. No increased odds of mortality were observed at greater distances, for overall mortality, or with downwind congestion. Unexpectedly, lower odds of cardiovascular mortality were suggested with greater congestion. This work demonstrates the use of non-traditional data to characterize the impacts of near-road exposures.

© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Language: en

Keywords

cardiovascular disease; environment; epidemiology; mortality; stroke