Effects of air pollution on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and on the quality of life of elderly people and children living in a port area in the city of Guarujá/SP.

Abstract

Introduction: Air pollution represents a major threat to public health. The port region has high levels of air pollution due to the intense traffic of cargo transport vehicles to the port and ships. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of air pollution on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and on the quality of life of children and elderly people living in a port area in the city of Guarujá/SP. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that will evaluate 670 children between 7 and 11 years old and 670 elderly people aged 60 years or older, of both sexes, living in a port area in Jardim Conceiçãozinha and Boa Esperança, in the city of Guarujá and residents of an area far from the port (control group) in the Perequê district. The evaluations will be carried out from June 2023 to February 2024. Participants will respond to an initial evaluation form (gender, age, tobacco consumption, history of diseases, medication in use, low birth weight, level of education and evaluation socioeconomic), questionnaire for the assessment of respiratory symptoms in adults - European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS), questionnaire on child-related respiratory symptoms (Questionnaire International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood - ISAAC) and questionnaire for assessing quality of life - Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Assessment of vital signs, blood pressure, lung function (spirometry) and carbon monoxide in exhaled air (COex) will be performed. The determination of atmospheric pollutants will be carried out using the DustTrak DRX aerosol monitor, to record the concentration (µg/m3) of particulate matter. Statistical analysis: The statistical program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 will be used. Data normality will be verified using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. For comparison of categorical variables, the chi-square test (Fisher's correction) will be used and the results will be presented in frequency and percentage. For comparison of numeric (continuous) variables, the independent T test or Mann-Whitney test will be used and the results will be expressed as mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile range 25-75% depending on the normality of the data. For all analyzes, a statistical significance (p-value) of less than 5% (p<0.05) will be adopted.