(It's National Pollution Prevention Day today. FIT is republishing this story to create awareness around the issue.)
With the deterioration of air quality in the nation’s capital, a rapid increase has been registered in COVID-19 cases.
But how can polluted air increase the risk of coronavirus infection? Is the toxic air making the disease in COVID patients more severe? What trends are doctors in the National Capital Region (NCR) observing?
We reached out to a specialists to get the answers.
Have coronavirus cases increased due to increased air pollution in Delhi?
Dr Sumit Ray, Senior Consultant, Critical Care Medicine at Holy Family Hospital, Delhi, says, “We are seeing a significant rise in cases. I think it is not just related to pollution, but, also because of the festival season. There is much more social and physical interactions between people.”
Dr Richa Sareen, Consultant, Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine at Vasant kunj’s Fortis Hospital, also supports this, saying, “Hospitals in Delhi are definitely seeing a surge in coronavirus cases since the past few days, which is the combined result of worsening air quality, drop in temperature and laxity on the part of people in adhering to the measures of social distancing and wearing masks, especially during the festive times.”
What is the link between air pollution and coronavirus infection?
Experts point out that due to low temperatures and increased air pollution, particulate matter remain suspended in the air or smog for a longer period.
Dr Sandeep Nayar, Director and Head of Department, Center for Chest and Respiratory Diseases at Delhi’s BL Kapoor Hospital says, “symptoms like coughing and sneezing are more in polluted environment and if patient is suffering from any respiratory infections like COVID then there are more chances of dispersion of droplets.”
Does air pollution increase the risk of serious illness in patients with COVID-19?
Dr Sandeep Nayar believes that there is not just an increase in number, but also in severity of the disease. “Patients are more symptomatic, presenting with severe respiratory distress and low oxygen,” he adds.
Dr Sumit Ray, Senior Consultant, Critical Care Medicine, at Delhi’s Holy family hospital says the co-relation is not that simple. “The answer is may or may not, depending on if the patient has had a history of respiratory ailments related to pollution earlier. But, viral infections tend to trigger respiratory symptoms more in the setting of pollution.” He adds, “Pollution will trigger respiratory symptoms in vulnerable patients and COVID respiratory symptoms may worsen due to pollution, but, direct co-relation cannot always be proven.”
“Both COVID infection and pollution predominantly affects lungs. Of course other organs are also affected but route of entry for both enemies (COVID as well as pollution ) remains respiratory system. This could be one of the reason for increase in severity of disease in COVID patients.”
Can air pollution make it easier for the coronavirus to attack the body?
Dr Sareen says “Air pollution and worsening air quality certainly seems to be linked to increase in number as well as severity of coronavirus cases, as suggested by a Harvard study too.”
Air pollution causes an inflammation of the airways and lungs, making them more vulnerable to the effects of virus, resulting in increased severity of illness, Dr Sareen adds.
Dr Vivek Nangia, Principal Director and Head of Pulmonology at Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, explains, “exposure to polluted air is known to cause inflammation and cellular damage, making it easy for the virus or any other pathogenic microbe to invade our lungs and also that this process of inflammation may suppress early immune response to infection, making an individual more susceptible.”
This means that the ability to fight infection will be markedly impaired.
“It has been observed that in areas with poor quality air, not only does the number of people developing COVID increase, but so does the death rate. With every 1 micron/cubic meter increase in PM 2.5 particle, the mortality rate increases by 8%. A direct relationship exists between air pollution and COVID-19 infection. There is a positive association of PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2 and O3 with COVID-19 confirmed cases that has been observed,” he adds.
Dr Viny Kantroo, Respiratory Medicine Specialist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital adds,
“We should be most aware that those who had moderate to severe involvement with COVID may suffer from post COVID complications and hence these are the patients whose breathing problems can be increased by polluted air considering they already have inflamed airway and most susceptible to bronchospasm.”
To add to that, Dr Viny Kantroo shares a few tips to circumvent these effects which includes:
- Going out later in the day rather than early morning when air is most cold and hence very polluted
- Elderly and vulnerable people to remain indoors as much as possible
- Follow your doctors prescription meticulously and seek advice early to avoid complications
- Avoid overcrowding and follow SMS - social distance, mask, sanitisation of hands
- Contributing long term by planting more trees and encouraging greenery in and around house
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