Risk of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Women Exposed to Fine Air Pollutants and Acidic Gases: A Nationwide Cohort Analysis

Shih-Yi Lin, Yu-Cih Yang, Cherry Yin-Yi Chang, Cheng-Chieh Lin, Wu-Huei Hsu, Shu-Woei Ju, Chung-Y. Hsu and Chia-Hung Kao
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Shih-Yi Lin: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
Yu-Cih Yang: Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
Cherry Yin-Yi Chang: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
Cheng-Chieh Lin: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
Wu-Huei Hsu: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
Shu-Woei Ju: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
Chung-Y. Hsu: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
Chia-Hung Kao: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Air pollutants cause endocrine disorders and hormone disruption. The relationship between air pollutants and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) must be carefully investigated using a nationwide cohort. Methods: Data were extracted from two nationwide databases, namely Longitudinal Health Insurance Database and Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring Database, and analyzed. The study considered a range of data that began on 1 January 2000 and ended on 31 December 2013. Women diagnosed with PCOS were excluded. From the residential data, the study assessed the daily concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NOx), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and PM 2.5 the women were exposed to. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was applied to assess PCOS risk. Results: In total, 91,803 women were enrolled in this study; of those women, 2072 developed PCOS after 12 years of follow-up. The mean daily concentrations of SO 2 , NOx, NO, NO 2 , and PM 2.5 women were exposed to were 4.25 (±1.44) ppb, 20.41 (±6.65) ppb, 9.25 (±4.36) ppb, 20.99 (±3.33) ppb, and 30.85 (±6.16) μg/m 3 , respectively. Compared with the first-quartile levels of exposure, the fourth-quartile levels of exposure to SO 2 , NOx, NO, NO 2 , and PM 2.5 increased PCOS risk by 10.31 times (95% CI = 8.35–12.7), 3.37 times (95% CI = 2.86–3.96), 4.18 times (95% CI = 3.57–4.89), 7.46 times (95% CI = 6.38–8.71), and 3.56 times (95% CI = 3.05–4.15), respectively. Conclusion: Women exposed to a high concentrations of air pollutants, namely SO 2 , NO, NO 2 , NOx, and PM 2.5 , had a high PCOS risk.

Keywords: air pollutants; polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); Taiwan air quality; monitoring database (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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