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. 2021 Nov 17;129(11):117003. doi: 10.1289/EHP9726

Table 5.

Risk ratios ratios (RRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from multinomial logistic regression models between air pollution at residence and severity of COVID-19 disease among the total COVICAT population and subgroups with serological testing and positive antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Population/air pollutant Mild cases Severe/critical cases
RRR (95% CI)a RRR (95% CI)a
Total population (n=9,605: 9,124 noncases, 413 mild cases, 68 severe/critical cases)
NO2 1.12 (0.97, 1.30) 1.26 (0.89, 1.79)
PM2.5 1.13 (0.98, 1.30) 1.51 (1.06, 2.16)
 BC 1.02 (0.90, 1.17) 0.84 (0.62, 1.15)
O3 0.94 (0.83, 1.06) 0.81 (0.59, 1.11)
Participants with serology (n=4,103: 3,918 noncases, 160 mild cases, 25 severe/critical cases)
NO2 1.27 (1.01, 1.61) 1.83 (1.01, 3.31)
PM2.5 1.24 (0.98, 1.57) 2.12 (1.13, 3.96)
 BC 0.95 (0.77, 1.17) 1.21 (0.70, 2.09)
O3 0.84 (0.68, 1.04) 0.59 (0.33, 1.06)
Participants with SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=743: 622 noncases, 100 mild cases, 21 severe/critical cases)
NO2 1.18 (0.85, 1.65) 1.84 (0.94, 3.58)
PM2.5 1.13 (0.80, 1.59) 2.03 (0.99, 4.17)
 BC 1.05 (0.79, 1.39) 1.21 (0.68, 2.16)
O3 0.94 (0.70, 1.25) 0.59 (0.31, 1.14)

Note: Associations reported per interquartile range. Severe COVID-19 was defined as having been admitted to the hospital or ICU, or having had oxygen therapy without having been admitted to the hospital. Mild cases included any other COVID-19 case. Noncases were the reference group. BC, black carbon; COVICAT, COVID-19 cohort in Catalonia study; ICU, intensive care unit; NO2, nitrogen dioxide; O3, ozone; PM2.5, particulate matter.

a

Adjusted for age, sex, education (less than primary/primary/secondary/university), 2011 census deprivation index (quintiles), population density and type of survey (online/telephone).