Lorenz, C., Libonati, R., Belém, L.B.C., Oliveira, A., Chiaravalloti, R M., Nunes, A.V., Batista, E.K.L., Fernandes, G.W., Chiaravalloti-Neto, F., Damasceno-Junior, G.A., Berlinck, C.N., and Roque, F.O. (2023) Wildfire and smoke association with COVID-19 cases in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil. Public Health, 225. pp. 311-319.

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Abstract

Objectives: In 2020, Brazil experienced two concurrent public health challenges related to respiratory disease: wildfires and increased mortality due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Smoke from these wildfires contributed to a variety of air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The present study aims to investigate the effects of environmental and socio-economic factors on COVID-19 hospitalisation in the Pantanal.

Study design: Ecological retrospective study.

Methods: We applied a multilevel negative binomial model to relate monthly hospitalisation data with environmental variables.

Results: We showed that monthly PM2.5 concentration levels had the greatest influence on the increase in hospitalisations by COVID-19 in the elderly (23 % increase). The Gini index, a coefficient that reflects income inequalities, also had a positive association with COVID-19 hospitalisations (18 % increase). Higher temperatures and humidity were protective factors, showing a 15 % and 14 % decrease in hospitalisations, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that high PM2.5 exposure contributed to the increase in COVID-19 hospitalisations, as did the social inequalities of each municipality. \

Conclusions: The present study highlights the importance of gathering evidence supported by multiple information sources to guide decision-making and identify populations needing better public health systems.

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