Impact of Ambient Air Quality on Respiratory Morbidity: A Retrospective Trend Analysis of The Cases Reported In The Regions of Delhi, India

Air pollution remains a major public health challenge in Delhi, for past decade in India with elevated AQI, PM2.5, and PM10 levels closely associated with respiratory morbidities evident through the number of admissions in the emergency departments of the health facilities across regions of Delhi, India. This study analyses five years of data (from years 2018–2022) to examine persistence of linkage between air quality and respiratory morbidity, including cases requiring nebulization and ventilator support. Respiratory cases peaked at 983,339 during periods of severe pollution in the year 2018, declined in 2020 following lockdown measures, and rose again to over 192,000 after restrictions were lifted and normal activities resumed. The study recommends a balanced mainstreaming of systemic policies with strategic approaches to implement laws and rules as well as regulatory standards and public guidelines, specifically targeting vulnerable populations in the form of regulatory to control the air pollution generating sources and practicing community–driven desirable behaviours adhering to the governmental advisories to prevent alarming levels of air pollution and related respiratory morbidities leading to pre-mature mortalities.