Particulate matter exposure and risk of psoriasis

[Fred]

A Korean nationwide cohort study looking at particulate matter (PM) and onset and exacerbation of psoriasis.

Quote:

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Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease influenced by environmental factors, including air pollution. However, large-scale evidence from Asian populations, where particulate matter (PM) exposure is relatively high, remains limited.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between long-term PM exposure and psoriasis incidence, and short-term exposure with exacerbation risk. We conducted a cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, involving 8 396 764 individuals.

Long-term exposure was assessed based on annual average concentrations of fine PM (PM2.5) and coarse PM (PM10), while short-term exposure was measured using daily PM levels matched with control days. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with a 19% and 27% higher risk of incident psoriasis (adjusted HR 1.19 and 1.27; 95% CI 1.16–1.22 and 1.25–1.30). Short-term exposure was linked to an increased risk of psoriasis exacerbation (adjusted OR 1.03 for PM2.5, 95% CI 1.00–1.06; adjusted OR 1.01 for PM10, 95% CI 1.00–1.03).

Stronger associations were observed in younger individuals, urban residents, those with lower socioeconomic status, ever-smokers, and patients with comorbid allergic diseases.

These findings suggest that both long-term and short-term PM exposure contribute to psoriasis onset and exacerbation, underscoring air pollution as an important modifiable risk factor in psoriasis development and control.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

*Funding: National Institute of Health

[Caroline]

Now I think that a lof of PM is bad anyhow… for any person and for all types of diseases.

[Waine]

This reminds me of the Korean version of the TV Series Designated Survivor, which had a lot of focus on air quality 

Also who would have guessed Air Pollution = Bad?!. I wonder how much they spent on this study?