Long-term exposure to PM and fasting plasma glucose in non-diabetic adolescents in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND

Indonesia is facing serious air pollution. However, very few studies have been conducted to examine the health risks of air pollution in Indonesia, particularly for adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between long-term exposure to ambient particles with a diameter of <2.5 μm (PM) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 482 adolescents aged 14-18 years in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2016. We finally included 469 (97.30%) participants who had no missing data for data analysis. We collected individual data on socio-demographics, behavioral habits, and health information through standardized questionnaires. Satellite-based PM concentrations from 2013 to 2016 were assigned based on participants' residential addresses. The association between PM and FPG was examined using a generalized linear regression model while FPG was modeled as a continuous variable. An ordered logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between PM and FPG categories.

RESULTS

Every 1 μg/m³ increase in PM was associated with a 0.34 mg/dL [95 confidence interval (95% CI): 0.08 mg/dL, 0.59 mg/dL] increase in FPG levels. Comparing with the low FPG level (under 86 mg/dL), every 1 μg/m³ increase in PM was associated with a 10.20% (95% CI: 1.60%, 19.80%) increase in the odds of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (100-125 mg/dL). Stratified analyses indicated greater effects on participants with hypertension [odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.57] and those had higher physical activities (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.57). Adolescents' sex, obesity status and different cutoff points of FPG did not modify the association between the exposure to PM and FPG levels.

CONCLUSION

Long-term exposure to PM was associated with increased FPG levels in Indonesian non-diabetic adolescents.