The association of exposure to PM10 with the quality of life in adult asthma patients.

OBJECTIVES: Air pollution has become a critical environmental issue, which severely threatens the well-being of asthma patients. The quality of life of these patients, when exposed to air pollutants such as particulate matter 10 (PM10), has been poorly studied. The current research examined the association between the concentration of PM10 in the air and the quality of life of patients with asthma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 300 adult asthma patients treated in 2 allergy outpatient clinics in Krakow, who declared they would not leave the city in the 14-day study period. Daily concentrations of PM10 from air monitoring stations were recorded over a period of 2 weeks, following which the patients filled out the standardized Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) regarding the monitored period to assess the total quality of life and its 4 domains (symptoms, limitation of activity, emotional functioning and environmental stimuli). RESULTS: The average PM10 exposure was 65.2 mug/m3 and only 30% of the patients were exposed to values of