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Impacts of air pollution on health: evidence from longitudinal cohort data of patients with cardiovascular diseases

Author

Listed:
  • Clifford Afoakwah

    (Griffith University)

  • Son Nghiem

    (Griffith University)

  • Paul Scuffham

    (Griffith University
    Griffith University)

  • Quan Huynh

    (The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute)

  • Tom Marwick

    (The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute)

  • Joshua Byrnes

    (Griffith University)

Abstract

This study uses longitudinal cohort data to estimate the impacts of air pollution on health outcomes among people first hospitalised with heart diseases. Despite the generally low level of pollution in Australia, we find that acute exposure to pollution increases readmissions to hospitals within 3–12 months after discharge and is more evident among those suffering from heart failure. We further show that chronic exposure to air pollution increases the risk of death within 72 months, hospital admissions and general practitioner (GP) visits. Patients with coronary heart disease or cerebrovascular disease are the most affected groups. Finally, a cost saving of $1.3 billion will be generated to the health sector, if the monthly concentration of PM10 and CO was lowered to 15.49 µg/m3 and 122.99 µg/m3, respectively. The findings from our study emphasize the need for policies that target significant reduction in ambient PM10 and CO to decrease the demand for scarce healthcare resources for cardiac diseases.

Suggested Citation

  • Clifford Afoakwah & Son Nghiem & Paul Scuffham & Quan Huynh & Tom Marwick & Joshua Byrnes, 2020. "Impacts of air pollution on health: evidence from longitudinal cohort data of patients with cardiovascular diseases," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 21(7), pages 1025-1038, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujhec:v:21:y:2020:i:7:d:10.1007_s10198-020-01198-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10198-020-01198-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Karinna Saxby & Joshua Byrnes & Sonja C. de New & Son Nghiem & Dennis Petrie, 2023. "Does affirmative action reduce disparities in healthcare use by Indigenous peoples? Evidence from Australia's Indigenous Practice Incentives Program," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 853-872, April.
    2. Chen, Fanglin & Zhang, Xin & Chen, Zhongfei, 2023. "Air pollution and mental health: Evidence from China Health and Nutrition Survey," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    3. Clifford Afoakwah & Isaac Koomson, 2021. "How does school travel time impact children’s learning outcomes in a developing country?," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1077-1097, December.
    4. Nghiem, Son & Tran, Bach & Afoakwah, Clifford & Byrnes, Joshua & Scuffham, Paul, 2021. "Wealthy, healthy and green: Are we there yet?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    5. Dawid Majcherek & Marzenna Anna Weresa & Christina Ciecierski, 2021. "A Cluster Analysis of Risk Factors for Cancer across EU Countries: Health Policy Recommendations for Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-14, July.
    6. Clifford Afoakwah & Son Nghiem & Paul Scuffham & Simon Stewart & Joshua Byrnes, 2021. "Weather Trumps Festivity? More Cardiovascular Disease Events Occur in Winter than in December Holidays in Queensland, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-9, September.
    7. Bukhari, Ayaz Hussain & Raja, Muhammad Asif Zahoor & Shoaib, Muhammad & Kiani, Adiqa Kausar, 2022. "Fractional order Lorenz based physics informed SARFIMA-NARX model to monitor and mitigate megacities air pollution," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    8. Clifford Afoakwah & Joshua Byrnes & Paul Scuffham & Son Nghiem, 2023. "Testing for selection bias and moral hazard in private health insurance: Evidence from a mixed public‐private health system," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 3-24, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Air pollution; Cardiovascular disease; Health outcomes; Cost savings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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