Trends in years lived with disability due to air pollution-related chronic respiratory diseases and estimates of pulmonary rehabilitation needs in Greece and worldwide

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Air pollution is associated with the development and exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). Pulmonary rehabilitation reduces the disability of people suffering from these diseases, improving their quality of life. In this study, we aimed to identify trends in years lived with disability (YLDs) caused by air pollution-related CRDs both in Greece and worldwide along with assessing the need for the use of pulmonary rehabilitation services during the clinical course of these diseases. METHODS The study units were the Greek and global population in the years 1990 and 2019. The WHO Rehabilitation Need Estimator tool and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) were used to collect data regarding the prevalence of CRDs of non-specific etiology and the YLDs associated with CRDs of specific etiology (risk factor: air pollution), respectively. RESULTS Compared to 1990, in 2019 there was an increase in the prevalence of CRDs of non-specific etiology, both globally and locally. However, during the same period, YLDs caused by air pollution-CRDs decreased in both study units. Age had a statistically significant effect on CRD YLDs due to air pollution. CONCLUSIONS The above findings suggest that air pollution control programs have contributed to the decrease of YLDs caused by CRDs of specific etiology, yet the need for the use of pulmonary rehabilitation services is increasing both locally and globally. Therefore, CRDs remain a major public health problem, and high pulmonary rehabilitation costs will be required in the future for their management.