Air pollution and dynamic transitions of preserved ratio impaired spirometry in UK Biobank

This study compared the effect of air pollutant exposure on dynamic transitions in disease-free individuals, those with pre-COPD and those with confirmed COPD; data were derived from 31,625 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank who had repeated spirometric measurements and corresponding estimates of annual mean exposure to PM2.5, PMcoarse, and PM10. Spirometric measurements (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio) were obtained using a Vitalograph Pneumotrac spirometer.