The final set of confounders was selected for all potential confounders that change odds ratios (OR) for any of the low lung function indicators by more than at least 10% in one country (Table 1).
Finally, no significant sex dependency has been proved in the short- and long-term economic impact of COPD, and non significant differences between sexes were also assessed in terms of clinical and lung function indicators.
The explanatory measure of SES effects by other risk factors, the percentage reduction of excess odds ratio, showed a range between 5%to10%0% attributable risk for the self-reported respiratory health indicators and 21% to 33% change for the measured lung function indicators.
The crude odds ratio for the association between the lung function indicator FEV1 less than 80% of predicted value and educational level (<10 years vs. >10 years of school education) was 1.83 (95% CI: 1.22 2.74).
However, there is growing recognition that traditional clinical outcomes, such as lung function, are inadequate indicators of how asthma patients function and feel [ 7].
Our present study assessed the interaction of chemical pollutants and psychological stress on subjective (i.e., symptoms) and objective (i.e., cortisol, lung function, neurobehavioral performance) indicators of health effects, while holding temperature, humidity, noise, and light constant.
As low lung function is an indicator for increased morbidity and mortality, it is of great interest to identify and validate biomarkers that are associated with impaired lung function.
Although in our hands murine lung function measurements proved valuable indicators of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, some shortcomings of the present work and the method need to be pointed out.
Our analysis is a contribution to the German environmental inequalities discussion by investigating the associations between air pollution exposure, including PM10 in ambient air, heavy traffic, occupational exposure, smoking behaviour, SES indicated by educational level, and respiratory health indicators including lung function measurements.
A mixed linear model was used to test the effect of exposure on the composite score from the neurobehavioral task and on indicators of lung function.
Conversely, in the present study, no significant changes in lung function or quality of life indicators were observed over 360 days of analysis.
