High altitude Relieves transmission risks of COVID-19 through meteorological and environmental factors: Evidence from China

• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113214
• Publication Date: 2022-04-09T01:48:37Z
• Authors: Peizhi Song; Huawen Han; Hanzhong Feng; Yun Hui; Tuoyu Zhou; Wenbo Meng; Jun Yan; Junfeng Li; Yitian Fang; Pu Liu; Xun Li; Xiangkai Li
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; China; 03 medical and health sciences; Meteorology; Meteorological Concepts; Altitude; COVID-19; Humans; Colombia; Article; 3. Good health

Existing studies reported higher altitudes reduce the COVID-19 infection rate in the United States, Colombia, and Peru. However, the underlying reasons for this phenomenon remain unclear. In this study, regression analysis and mediating effect model were used in a combination to explore the altitudes relation with the pattern of transmission under their correlation factors. The preliminary linear regression analysis indicated a negative correlation between altitudes and COVID-19 infection in China. In contrast to environmental factors from low-altitude regions (<1500 m), high-altitude regions (>1500 m) exhibited lower PM2.5, average temperature (AT), and mobility, accompanied by high SO2 and absolute humidity (AH). Non-linear regression analysis further revealed that COVID-19 confirmed cases had a positive correlation with mobility, AH, and AT, whereas negatively correlated with SO2, CO, and DTR. Subsequent mediating effect model with altitude-correlated factors, such as mobility, AT, AH, DTR and SO2, suffice to discriminate the COVID-19 infection rate between low- and high-altitude regions. The mentioned evidence advance our understanding of the altitude-mediated COVID-19 transmission mechanism.