Association of Short-Term Exposure to Air Pollution with Depression in Patients with Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Study in Delhi, India.

Background: Patients with asthma are a population at risk for depression and subsequent mental health risks. Previous studies have suggested that exposure to air pollution is associated with lower asthma control and a higher risk of depression. There is limited evidence on the effect of short-term exposure to air pollution on mental health in susceptible populations, such as patients with asthma. Objectives: The objective of the present study was to assess the association between short-term exposure ( Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 151 consecutively recruited 18- to 65-y-old patients with asthma from two sites in Delhi, India. The Asthma Control Test and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were respectively used to assess asthma control and depression status. Data on particulate matter [PM Results: Among all participants, 58.3% exhibited depression, and 73.5% had uncontrolled asthma. Adjusted ordinal regression revealed significant associations of Conclusions: Our study shows that greater short-term exposure to air pollution may be associated with increased odds of depression and uncontrolled asthma in patients with asthma. Further studies are required to replicate our results and confirm this association. https://doi.org/10.1289/JHP1003.