# Increased Risk of Hospitalization for Lower Respiratory Tract Illness (LRTI) in the Elderly Living in Communities near a Newly Established Industrial Estate in Central Thailand

## TL;DR

Elderly people living near a new industrial estate in Thailand had a higher risk of being hospitalized for respiratory illnesses.

## Contribution

This study identifies a significant association between proximity to a new industrial estate and increased LRTI hospitalization risk in the elderly.

## Key findings

- Elderly individuals within 3 km of the industrial estate had a 3.43 times higher odds of LRTI hospitalization.
- The association was statistically significant with a 95% confidence interval of 1.61–7.36.
- Results highlight the health risks of industrial pollution on nearby elderly populations.

## Abstract

Air pollution and health effects in communities near industrial areas are matters of concern in Thailand. Elevated air pollution concentrations are associated with morbidity and mortality arising from lower respiratory tract illness. In this study, we aimed to assess whether living in a community near a new industrial estate in Central Thailand was associated with an elevated incidence of lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI) among the elderly. We used data on hospital admissions from a primary hospital and sub-district-level health-promoting hospitals in six sub-districts located within a radius of 5 km from the industrial estate, between 1 November 2023 and 31 March 2024, using a cross-sectional study design. There were 1311 elderly individuals living within a radius of 3 km and 1488 between 3 and 5 km. We found a statistically significant increased risk of hospitalization for LRTI in the elderly living within a radius of less than 3 km (odds ratio: 3.43 [95% CI: 1.61–7.36] compared to those living in a radius between 3 and 5 km. Our results provide strong support for an association between hospitalization for LRTI and living distance from a new industrial estate.