Associations between climate-related physical risks and lung disease among older adults in China: A cross-sectional study.

Jiang, Shasha; Yang, Xiaoqiu; Li, Yufang; Fei, Yousheng; Zhao, Chenggang; Wang, Zuohui; Li, Mengnan; Zhang, Yu et al. · Int J Med Inform · 2025

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

Climate extremes may adversely affect respiratory health, especially in older adults, but evidence from low- and middle-income countries is limited. We used 2011 data from 6620 Chinese adults aged ≥60 in the CHARLS study. Five exposures (LTD, HTD, ERD, EDD, and CPRI) were assessed. We applied logistic regression, restricted cubic splines, and quantile g-computation to explore linear and non-linear associations. Extreme drought (EDD) was significantly associated with lung disease (OR = 1.020, 95 % CI: 1.009-1.031), especially among frail individuals. EDD, ERD, and CPRI showed non-linear relationships. Extreme drought poses a significant risk to lung health in older adults, particularly the frail. Climate-adaptive public health strategies are urgently needed in aging populations.

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