Exploring the interactive effects of greenspace morphology and air pollutant on tuberculosis treatment outcomes: A comparative analysis between urban and rural areas in China

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB), particularly pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), remains a major public health issue in China. It ranks as the second-leading cause of infectious disease mortality in China. Previous studies have documented the impacts of particulate matter with diameters ≤ 2.5 µm (PM_2.5) and greenspace on TB outcomes independently. However, the interaction effects between greenspace morphology and PM_2.5 on TB risk, especially across urban and rural contexts, remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis using data from 42,331 PTB patients in Zhejiang Province between 2015 and 2019. Our objective was to explore the influence of greenspace morphology on PTB treatment success in relation to PM_2.5, with a specific emphasis on elucidating urban–rural disparities. The results revealed a significant interaction between greenspace morphology and PM_2.5. This interaction impacted PTB treatment success differently across urban and rural settings at varying spatial scales. Specifically, in urban areas, while greenspace morphologies did not exhibit significant effects at the community level, the percentage of greenspace and the mean area at the block level significantly influenced PTB treatment success. Conversely, in rural areas, all types of greenspace morphologies showed significant effects at the community level, except for the mean area, which was not significant at the block level. To enhance the treatment success of PTB patients, we recommended increasing the number of greenspaces at the community level while also improving their size at the block level in urban areas. In rural areas, efforts should focus on maintaining favorable greenspace morphologies (except for mean area) at the community level and enhancing them while simultaneously reducing PM_2.5 levels at the block level. These findings not only highlight the importance of mitigating health inequities between urban and rural areas, but also provide insights for developing targeted greenspace strategies aimed at promoting successful PTB treatment.