Key points from article :
Asthma emergency admissions dropped by 41% in 2020 due to reduced traffic-related air pollution during Covid lockdowns.
“The Covid-19 pandemic led to study the impacts of rapid changes in human activities on air quality," - Suzanne Bartington, lead author.
Previous national studies also showed reduced asthma exacerbations during lockdowns.
Oxford study is the first to directly link air pollution decrease with asthma admissions.
Peaks in asthma admissions correlated with air pollution peaks in 2015 and 2019.
Similar patterns found in separate analysis from Dublin, Cork, and Meath in Ireland.
Asthmatics' experiences during lockdown suggest overall improvement in everyday symptoms with reduced air pollution.
Study by University of Birmingham, published in BMJ Open.
