XXXX severity and susceptibility to air pollution.

@entity1 @entity7459 @entity12546 @entity1353 @entity565 @entity134 @entity6836 @entity9734 @entity1787
Exacerbations of @entity565 have been associated with exposure to @entity1787 or particles with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 10 microm (PM10). We postulated in this study that the association of summertime air pollution (i.e. @entity1787 and PM10) with acute respiratory symptoms, medication use and peak expiratory flow differs among @entity1 grouped according to @entity565 severity. During the summer of 1995, effects of ambient air pollution on these parameters were studied in a panel of 60 nonsmoking @entity1 with intermittent to severe persistent @entity565 . These @entity1 were recruited from our Pulmonary Out- @entity1 Clinic. Subgroup analysis was performed on the degree of hyperresponsiveness and lung @entity134 use before the start of the study, as indictors for the severity of @entity565 . Associations of the parameters studied with @entity1787 , PM10, @entity7459 ( @entity6836 ), @entity12546 ( @entity9734 ) and black smoke were evaluated using time series analysis. Several episodes with increased summertime air pollution occurred during the 96 day study period. Eight hour average @entity1787 concentrations exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (120 microg x m(-3)) on 16 occasions. Daily mean levels of PM10 were moderately elevated (range 16-98 microg x m(-3)). Levels of the other measured pollutants were low. There was a consistent, positive association of the prevalence of @entity1353 (maximal relative risk (RRmax) 1.18) with @entity1787 , PM10, black smoke and @entity6836 . In addition, bronchodilator use was associated with both @entity1787 and PM10 levels (RRmax 1.16). Stratification by airway hyperresponsiveness and @entity134 use did not affect the magnitude of the observed associations. No associations with peak expiratory flow measurements were found. We conclude that the severity of @entity565 is not an indicator for the sensitivity to air pollution.
