Abstract
Background and Objective: Air pollution poses significant risks to global public health and has well-established links to respiratory diseases. This study investigates the associations between air pollution markers-Air Quality Index (AQI), ambient ozone, and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2))-and the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and tuberculosis. It also examines how socioeconomic factors such as gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, tobacco prevalence, and healthcare expenditure influence these relationships. This study includes data from 27 countries, thereby offering a global perspective to inform public health interventions and policy reforms. Methods: Data on average air pollution levels, respiratory disease incidence, and socioeconomic factors were collected from publicly available sources spanning four years. The 27 countries included in the study were selected to represent a broad range of pollution levels, income brackets, and geographical regions. Statistical analyses were performed using Python 3.12.0 to explore the relationships between these variables. Key Findings: AQI and NO(2) levels were significantly associated with increased incidences of COPD and tuberculosis, with rates rising especially during periods of heightened pollution. Conversely, ambient ozone exhibited inconsistent relationships with respiratory diseases, heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors. Higher GDP per capita and healthcare expenditure were linked to improved management of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, though they also corresponded with higher reporting of chronic conditions such as COPD. Tobacco smoking emerged as a critical risk factor for COPD across all regions. Conclusions: This study underscores the strong associations between air pollutants and respiratory diseases, particularly tuberculosis and COPD, with socioeconomic factors significantly influencing these relationships. Reducing air pollution and improving healthcare systems, particularly in low-income regions, are essential to mitigating the global burden of respiratory diseases.