COVID-19 still haunts many parts of the world. Although it has been established as a pandemic, the death rate due to COVID-19 is still below the average mortality rate caused by similar viruses, like SARS and MERS. However, you cannot just ignore it. The risk of death from COVID-19 is very dependent on health conditions. The elderly are very susceptible to this virus, especially those who have a history of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart, or lung disease.

Not only that, according to the results of a recent study conducted by Aarhus University (Denmark) and the University of Sien (Italy), it was found that air pollution can increase the risk of death of people with COVID-19. These results were obtained after the researchers observed the conditions in Italy. COVID-19 patients who come from areas with high levels of air pollution have a higher percentage of deaths.

To date, Italy has become the country with the third-highest COVID-19 death rate, after the United States and Spain. There are significant variations in death rates of the disease. In northern Italy, such as Lombardy or Emilia Romagna, the COVID-19 mortality rate is 12%, while in other areas in Italy, it is only 4.5%. It is known that northern Italy has the worst levels of air pollution, not only in Italy, but throughout the European continent.

Previous studies have shown that acute respiratory disorders such as COVID-19 can get worse when there is dysregulation of the immune system, which can cause inflammation in various parts of the body. The researchers explained that air pollution is one of the causes of inflammation in the body that can lead to excessive activation of the immune system. In addition, air pollution can also damage the cilia of the lungs, which are hair-like organelles that serve as the first defense against infections transmitted through the air. Therefore, experts believe that air pollution can also be a factor that increases the risk of death in COVID-19 patients.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source(s):

• Conticini, E., Frediani, B., and Caro, D. (2020). Can atmospheric pollution be considered a co-factor in extremely high levels of SARS-CoV-2 lethality in Northern Italy ?. Environmental Pollution, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114465.
• Medical News Today - Water pollution may affect the lethality of COVID-19 (2020). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/air-pollution-may-affect-the-lethality-of-covid-19, 20 April 2020.