Fine particulate air pollution and premature atrial contractions: The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study

Evaluating the mortality and health rate caused by the PM2.5 pollutant in the air of several important Iranian cities and evaluating the effect of variables with a linear time series model

All over the world, the level of special air pollutants that have the potential to cause diseases is increasing. Although the relationship between exposure to air pollutants and mortality has been proven, the health risk assessment and prediction of these pollutants have a therapeutic role in protecting public health, and need more research. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the ill-health caused by PM2.5 pollution using AirQ + software and to evaluate the different effects on PM2.5 with time series linear modeling by R software version 4.1.3 in the cities of Arak, Esfahan, Ahvaz, Tabriz, Shiraz, Karaj and Mashhad during 2019-2020. The pollutant hours, meteorology, population and mortality information were calculated by the Environmental Protection Organization, Meteorological Organization, Statistics Organization and Statistics and Information Technology Center of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education for 24 h of PM2.5 pollution with Excel software. In addition, having 24 h of PM2.5 pollutants and meteorology is used to the effect of variables on PM2.5 concentration. The results showed that the highest and lowest number of deaths due to natural deaths, ischemic heart disease (IHD), lung cancer (LC), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) and stroke in The effect of disease with PM2.5 pollutant in Ahvaz and Arak cities was 7.39-12.32%, 14.6-17.29%, 16.48-8.39%, 10.43-18.91%, 12.21-22.79% and 14.6-18.54 % respectively. Another result of this research was the high mortality of the disease compared to the mortality of the nose. The analysis of the results showed that by reducing the pollutants in the cities of Karaj and Shiraz, there is a significant reduction in mortality and linear modeling provides a suitable method for air management planning.

Association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 constituents and electrocardiographic abnormality: A nationwide longitudinal study in China

BACKGROUND

Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities are known to have prognostic value for heart conditions, while evidence on the relationship between long-term exposure to PM2.5 constituents and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities is limited. This study aimed to quantify the association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 constituents and changes in ECG diagnoses.

METHODS

We designed a longitudinal study among participants with repeated records of ECG examination based on the China National Stroke Screening Survey 2013-2018. Logistic regressions with multiple adjustment, estimated by the generalized estimating equation to incorporate repeated measurements, were used to assess the associations between the occurrence of any physician-diagnosed ECG abnormalities and long-term exposure to PM2.5 constituents.

RESULTS

We included 61,094 participants with 132,249 visits. All five constituents (sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, organic matter, and black carbon) were significantly associated with an increased risk of ECG abnormalities. The excess risk of ECG abnormalities per interquartile-range increase in exposure was the highest for sulfate (26%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 23-29%), followed by ammonium (22%, 19-26%), nitrate (21%, 17-24%), black carbon (16%, 13-10%) and organic matter (9%,6%-11%). We also found that atrial fibrillation patients might be susceptible to the adverse effects of PM2.5 constituents on ECG.

CONCLUSION

Differential associations between various constituents of PM2.5 and ECG abnormalities were found. The unequal toxicities for different chemical constituents of ambient particles on cardiovascular electrophysiological endpoints should be taken into consideration when considering the biological pathways linking PM2.5 and cardiovascular conditions.

Fine particulate matter and cardiorespiratory health in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

This review aimed to systematically summarize the epidemiological literature on the cardiorespiratory effects of PM_2.5 published during the 13^th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) in China. Original articles published between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2021 were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Internet Database and Wanfang Database. Random- or fixed-effects models were used to pool effect estimates where appropriate. Of 8558 records identified, 145 met the full eligibility criteria. A 10 µg/m³ increase in short-term PM_2.5 exposure was significantly associated with increases of 0.70%, 0.86%, 0.38% and 0.96% in cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, cardiovascular morbidity, and respiratory morbidity, respectively. The specific diseases with significant associations included stroke, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia and allergic rhinitis. The pooled estimates per 10 µg/m³ increase in long-term PM_2.5 exposure were 15.1%, 11.9% and 21.0% increases in cardiovascular, stroke and lung cancer mortality, and 17.4%, 11.0% and 4.88% increases in cardiovascular, hypertension and lung cancer incidence respectively. Adverse changes in blood pressure, heart rate variability, systemic inflammation, blood lipids, lung function and airway inflammation were observed for either short-term or long-term PM_2.5 exposure, or both. Collectively, we summarized representative exposure-response relationships between short- and long-term PM_2.5 exposure and a wide range of cardiorespiratory outcomes applicable to China. The magnitudes of estimates were generally smaller in short-term associations and comparable in long-term associations compared with those in developed countries. Our findings are helpful for future standard revisions and policy formulation. There are still some notable gaps that merit further investigation in China.

[Air pollution and heart rhythm disturbance: A retrospective study]

INTRODUCTION

According to many studies, exposure to air pollution increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It has also been shown that the frequency of heart rhythm disorders in Region wallonne is very high.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis of a link between rhythm disorders measured by cardiac holters and data from devices measuring the concentration of air pollutants present in ambient air.

METHODOLOGY

The health data were obtained via the Erasme hospital's cardiology center. This is a retrospective data collection over the last 2 to 5 years. The environmental data are: PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3 and temperature. The statistical models were based on "cross-case" analyses.

RESULTS

An association between PM10 and the number of ESAs was observed. An increase of 10μg/m³ of PM10 increases the number of ESAs by 20% (P=0.040). The number of ESAs increases with age (63% more ESAs when age increases by 10 years). A history of intervention also decreases the number of ESAs (-35%), the same phenomenon is observed for pacemaker wearers (-66%). The strongest association observed between NO2 and ESA with an OR of 1.37 (P=0.027) in the final model. No significant association was observed between the effects of air pollution and VPCs.

CONCLUSION

Our analyses resume the effects of the different pollutants on rhythm disorders, the effects adjusted for treatment and co-morbidities. They open the door to other more refined studies based on individual measurements.

Long-Term Particulate Matter Exposure and Incidence of Arrhythmias: A Cohort Study

Background Studies have shown that short-term exposure to air pollution is associated with cardiac arrhythmia hospitalization and mortality. However, the relationship between long-term particulate matter air pollution and arrhythmias is still unclear. We evaluate the prospective association between particulate matter (PM) air pollution and the risk of incident arrhythmia and its subtypes. Methods and Results Participants were drawn from a prospective cohort study of 178 780 men and women who attended regular health screening exams in Seoul and Suwon, South Korea, from 2002 to 2016. Exposure to PM with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 and ≤2.5 μm (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, respectively) was estimated using a land-use regression model. The associations between long-term PM air pollution and arrhythmia were examined using pooled logistic regression models with time-varying exposure and covariables. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratios (ORs) for any arrhythmia associated with a 10 μg/m³ increase in 12-, 36-, and 60-month PM₁₀ exposure were 1.15 (1.09, 1.21), 1.12 (1.06, 1.18), and 1.14 (1.08, 1.20), respectively. The ORs with a 10 μg/m³ increase in 12- and 36-month PM_2.5 exposure were 1.27 (1.15, 1.40) and 1.10 (0.99, 1.23). PM₁₀ was associated with increased risk of incident bradycardia and premature atrial contraction. PM_2.5 was associated with increased risk of incident bradycardia and right bundle-branch block. Conclusions In this large cohort study, long-term exposure to outdoor PM air pollution was associated with increased risk of arrhythmia. Our findings indicate that PM air pollution may be a contributor to cardiac arrhythmia in the general population.

Meteorological correlates and AirQ+ health risk assessment of ambient fine particulate matter in Tehran, Iran

There are few studies in the world that have been evaluated the mortality due to exposure to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm by AirQ+ software. Therefore, the study aimed to correlate between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and meteorological variables and estimate all-cause annual mortality and mortality from cerebrovascular disease (stroke), ischemic heart disease (IHD), acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), lung cancer (LC), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attributed to long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 in Tehran from March 2017 to March 2018 using the WHO AirQ+ software. Data related to air quality, meteorological condition, population and the baseline incidence rates of health endpoints in Tehran were gathered from government agencies. The association between the PM2.5 concentrations and meteorological variables in the period of study were assessed by correlation analysis. The results of correlation analysis showed a weak positive correlation between PM2.5 concentrations and average monthly temperature (r = 0.42, P < 0.05) and average monthly humidity (r = 0.37, P < 0.05) in Tehran. The quantitative risk assessment related to all-cause annual mortality, the mortality of IHD, stroke, COPD, LC and ALRI were estimated 6710, 3797, 1145, 172, 135 and 27 cases, respectively. The results of regression association analysis between PM_2.5 and the number of recorded deaths was showed that with an increase of one microgram per cubic meter of PM_2.5, it is expected that about 27 cases will be added to air pollution mortality in Tehran.

Clinical effects of air pollution on the central nervous system; a review

The purpose of this review is to describe recent clinical and epidemiological studies examining the adverse effects of urban air pollution on the central nervous system (CNS). Air pollution and particulate matter (PM) are associated with neuroinflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These processes affect multiple CNS pathways. The conceptual framework of this review focuses on adverse effects of air pollution with respect to neurocognition, white matter disease, stroke, and carotid artery disease. Both children and older individuals exposed to air pollution exhibit signs of cognitive dysfunction. However, evidence on middle-aged cohorts is lacking. White matter injury secondary to air pollution exposure is a putative mechanism for neurocognitive decline. Air pollution is associated with exacerbations of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Increases in stroke incidences and mortalities are seen in the setting of air pollution exposure and CNS pathology is robust. Large populations living in highly polluted environments are at risk. This review aims to outline current knowledge of air pollution exposure effects on neurological health.