1 in 10 Asthma Cases May Be Prevented with Better Urban Environments: Study

New Delhi: A study conducted by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has revealed that a combination of environmental factors—specifically air pollution, dense urban development, and limited access to green spaces—significantly increases the risk of asthma in both children and adults. The findings highlight that improving urban environmental conditions could help prevent nearly one in ten asthma cases.

Unlike previous studies that assessed the impact of single environmental risks in isolation, this research examined the collective influence of multiple urban environmental exposures. By combining data on air quality, levels of urban density, and access to green areas, the researchers were able to more accurately estimate how everyday city life contributes to the onset of asthma. The study concluded that 11.6 percent of asthma cases could be attributed to these environmental combinations, underlining the importance of addressing them together rather than in isolation.

"This finding is useful for politicians and others involved in urban planning," said Professor Erik Melén of the Department of Clinical Research and Education at Karolinska Institutet. He emphasized that the methodology not only helps identify current high-risk areas in urban settings but can also guide the development of healthier urban environments in the future.

The research analyzed data from nearly 350,000 individuals across 14 cohorts in seven European countries. By using home address data, researchers were able to link each participant’s exposure to urban environmental risks, such as air pollution and temperature, with satellite imagery that showed the distribution of built-up (grey), green, and water (blue) areas.

Over the course of the study, approximately 7,500 participants developed asthma, either during childhood or adulthood. The researchers now aim to analyze blood samples from some of these individuals to map their metabolome—a comprehensive profile of the body’s metabolic state. This will help them better understand how external environmental exposures affect biological processes and contribute to asthma development.

The findings underscore the critical role of urban planning in public health and point toward actionable strategies to reduce asthma risk through improved air quality, increased green spaces, and more balanced urban development.