Table 2 Characteristics of included studies
References | Country | Country income | Research aim | Exposure assessment | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[19] | Brazil | Upper middle income | The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of exposure to particulate matter on hospitalizations in relation to certain respiratory diseases amongst residents in Volta Redonda (RJ) | PM2.5 | There were 752 hospitalizations in 2012 and the average concentration of PM2.5 was 17.2 μg/m3; the effects of exposure were seen to be significant at lag 2 (RR = 1.017), lag 5 (RR = 1.022) and lag 7 (RR = 1020). A decrease in PM2.5 concentration of 5 μg/m3 could lower admissions by 76 cases and decrease spending by up to R$84,000 annually |
[20] | Brazil | Upper middle income | This study aimed to estimate the association between hospitalizations due to asthma and air pollutants | CO, O3, NOX, PM2.5 | Exposure to NOx was associated with mortality owing to respiratory diseases from 2011 to 2012: relative risk (RR) = 1.035 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.008–1.063) for lag 2, RR = 1.064 (95%CI 1.017–1.112) lag 3, RR = 1.055 (95%CI 1.025–1.085) lag 4, and RR = 1.042 (95%CI 1.010–1.076) lag 5. A 3 mg/m3 reduction in NOx concentration decreased 10–18% points in the risk of death caused by respiratory diseases. Even at NOx concentrations below hazardous standards, there is an association with deaths and respiratory diseases |
[21] | Brazil | Upper middle income | The aim was to determine the effects of exposure to fine particulate matter in elderly hospitalizations owing to respiratory diseases in the South of the Brazilian Amazon | PM2.5 | Significant associations between exposure to PM2.5 and hospitalizations in lags 3 and 4 in 2012 were observed. About thirty-two percent hospitalization risk increase, with an increase of 3.5Â mg/m3 of PM2.5 concentrations leading to an increase of 188 in the total number of hospitalizations, creating an expense of more than US$ 96,000 |
[22] | Brazil | Upper middle income | This systematic review estimated the role of exposure to fine particulate matter in hospitalizations due to pneumonia and how a reduction may affect the number of these hospitalizations and costs | PM2.5 | Exposure to air pollutants was associated with hospitalization four and five days after exposure and increased hospitalization cost from 2011 to 2013 |