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Wass SY, Hahad O, Asad Z, Li S, Chung MK, Benjamin EJ, Nasir K, Rajagopalan S, Al-Kindi SG. Environmental Exposome and Atrial Fibrillation: Emerging Evidence and Future Directions. Circ Res 2024; 134:1029-1045. [PMID: 38603473 PMCID: PMC11060886 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.323477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
There has been increased awareness of the linkage between environmental exposures and cardiovascular health and disease. Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, affecting millions of people worldwide and contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality. Although numerous studies have explored the role of genetic and lifestyle factors in the development and progression of atrial fibrillation, the potential impact of environmental determinants on this prevalent condition has received comparatively less attention. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on environmental determinants of atrial fibrillation, encompassing factors such as air pollution, temperature, humidity, and other meteorologic conditions, noise pollution, greenspace, and the social environment. We discuss the existing evidence from epidemiological and mechanistic studies, critically evaluating the strengths and limitations of these investigations and the potential underlying biological mechanisms through which environmental exposures may affect atrial fibrillation risk. Furthermore, we address the potential implications of these findings for public health and clinical practice and identify knowledge gaps and future research directions in this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sojin Youn Wass
- Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH (M.K.C., S.Y.W.)
| | - Omar Hahad
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany (O.H.)
| | - Zain Asad
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Oklahoma City (Z.A.)
| | - Shuo Li
- Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (S.L.)
| | - Mina K Chung
- Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH (M.K.C., S.Y.W.)
| | - Emelia J Benjamin
- Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, MA (E.J.B.)
| | - Khurram Nasir
- Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston Methodist, TX (K.N., S.G.A.-K.)
| | - Sanjay Rajagopalan
- Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH (S.R.)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH (S.R.)
| | - Sadeer G Al-Kindi
- Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston Methodist, TX (K.N., S.G.A.-K.)
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Wu S, Guo J, Chen X, Wang J, Zhao G, Ma S, Hao T, Tan J, Li Y. Rapid weather changes are associated with daily hospital visitors for atrial fibrillation accompanied by abnormal ECG repolarization: a case-crossover study. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:62. [PMID: 38245805 PMCID: PMC10799445 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01632-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly prevalent in the population, yet the factors contributing to AF events in susceptible individuals remain partially understood. The potential relationship between meteorological factors and AF, particularly with abnormal electrocardiograph (ECG) repolarization, has not been adequately studied. This case-crossover study aims to investigate the association between meteorological factors and daily hospital visits for AF with abnormal ECG repolarization in Shanghai, China. METHODS The study cohort comprised 10,325 patients with ECG-confirmed AF who sought treatment at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital between 2015 and 2018. Meteorological and air pollutant concentration data were matched with the patient records. Using a case-crossover design, we analyzed the association between meteorological factors and the daily count of hospital visitors for AF with abnormal ECG repolarization at our AF center. Lag analysis models were applied to examine the temporal relationship between meteorological factors and AF events. RESULTS The analysis revealed statistically significant associations between AF occurrence and specific meteorological factors. AF events were significantly associated with average atmospheric pressure (lag 0 day, OR 0.9901, 95% CI 0.9825-0.9977, P < 0.05), average temperature (lag 1 day, OR 0.9890, 95% CI 0.9789-0.9992, P < 0.05), daily pressure range (lag 7 days, OR 1.0195, 95% CI 1.0079-1.0312, P < 0.01), and daily temperature range (lag 5 days, OR 1.0208, 95% CI 1.0087-1.0331, P < 0.01). Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between daily pressure range and daily temperature range with AF patients, particularly those with abnormal ECG repolarization, as evident in the case-crossover analysis. CONCLUSION This study highlights a significant correlation between meteorological factors and daily hospital visits for AF accompanied by abnormal ECG repolarization in Shanghai, China. In addition, AF patients with abnormal ECG repolarization were found to be more vulnerable to rapid daily changes in pressure and temperature compared to AF patients without such repolarization abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanmei Wu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingyi Guo
- Clinical Research Center, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, People's Republic of China
| | - Shixin Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianzheng Hao
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianguo Tan
- Shanghai Meteorological IT Support Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yongguang Li
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, People's Republic of China.
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Kim AG, Park C, Tokavanich N, Sabanci R, Freel R, Hayes V, Thakur RK. Meteorological Influence on Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter: A Nationwide Observational Study in South Korea (2010-2022). Cureus 2023; 15:e46867. [PMID: 37954814 PMCID: PMC10638101 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and rationale The impact of meteorological factors, including atmospheric temperature, humidity, and wind speed, on the incidence of atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF) has been the subject of several studies, but the findings have been inconsistent. Given the complex and multifaceted nature of this relationship, a larger-scale study was necessary to provide sufficient statistical power and elucidate potential associations between them. The aim of this study was, thus, to investigate the potential associations between meteorological factors and the incidence of AF. Methods The South Korean government provides open access to national health insurance and weather data for its citizens; the data was available from January 2010 to July 2022. The national health insurance data includes the monthly number of patients diagnosed with a specific condition, reflecting the incidence and prevalence of the condition. Pearson correlation analyses were performed using the statistical analysis software, SAS® OnDemand for Academics (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina, United States), to examine the association between each month's national average climate data and the number of patients diagnosed with AF. Results The number of patients diagnosed with AF in the total population showed a statistically significant correlation only with average wind speed (correlation coefficient (r)=-0.42, 95%CI -0.55 to -0.28, p<0.001) and sunshine duration (r=0.27, 95%CI 0.12 to 0.41, p<0.001). Among females aged 20-24 years, there was a statistically significant association with other variables, including average temperature, precipitation, humidity, and atmospheric pressure (p<0.05). Diurnal temperature variation showed inconsistent associations across different age and sex groups. Conclusion The number of patients diagnosed with AF is negatively correlated with average wind speed and positively correlated with sunshine duration in the general population, particularly among the elderly. There was no significant association between the number of patients diagnosed with AF and average temperature, precipitation, or humidity, except for females aged 20-24 years, who exhibited a significant association with these variables. However, it is important to note that these correlations do not establish causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Kim
- Internal Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
| | - Chanjoo Park
- General Practice, Catholic Kwandong University, Gangneung, KOR
| | - Nithi Tokavanich
- Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Rand Sabanci
- Internal Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
| | - Rebeccah Freel
- Cardiac Electrophysiology, Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, USA
| | - Victoria Hayes
- Cardiac Electrophysiology, Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, USA
| | - Ranjan K Thakur
- Cardiac Electrophysiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
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Sheehy S, Fonarow GC, Holmes DN, Lewis WR, Matsouaka RA, Piccini JP, Zhi L, Bhatt DL. Seasonal Variation of Atrial Fibrillation Admission and Quality of Care in the United States. J Am Heart Assoc 2022; 11:e023110. [PMID: 35156386 PMCID: PMC9245801 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.023110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Background Currently, little is known regarding seasonal variation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in the United States and whether quality of care for AF varies between seasons. Methods and Results The GWTG‐AFib (Get With The Guidelines–AFib) registry was initiated by the American Heart Association to enhance national guideline adherence for treatment and management of AF. Our analyses included 61 291 patients who were admitted at 141 participating hospitals from 2014 to 2018 across the United States. Outcomes included numbers of AF admissions and quality‐of‐care measures (defect‐free care, defined as a patient’s receiving all eligible measures). For quality‐of‐care measures, generalized estimating equations accounting for within‐site correlations were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs, adjusting patient and hospital characteristics. The proportion of AF admissions for each season was similar, with the highest percentage of AF admissions being observed in the fall (spring 25%, summer 25%, fall 27%, and winter 24%). Overall, AF admissions across seasons were similar, with no seasonal variation observed. No seasonal variation was observed for incident AF. There were no seasonal differences in care quality (multivariable adjusted ORs and 95% CIs were 0.93 (0.87–1.00) for winter, 1.09 (1.01–1.18) for summer, and 1.08 (0.97–1.20) for fall, compared with spring). Conclusions In a nationwide quality improvement registry, no seasonal variation was observed in hospital admissions for AF or quality of care for AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Sheehy
- Slone Epidemiology Center Boston University School of Medicine MA
| | - Gregg C. Fonarow
- Division of Cardiology University of California at Los Angeles CA
| | | | | | - Roland A. Matsouaka
- Duke Clinical Research Institute Durham NC
- Duke University Medical Center Durham NC
| | - Jonathan P. Piccini
- Duke Clinical Research Institute Durham NC
- Duke University Medical Center Durham NC
| | | | - Deepak L. Bhatt
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital Boston MA
- Harvard Medical School Boston MA
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Association between Atrial Fibrillation Incidence and Temperatures, Wind Scale and Air Quality: An Exploratory Study for Shanghai and Kunming. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13095247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
As a common cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation has the characteristics of high morbidity, high disability, and high fatality rates, seriously endangering human health and sustainability. Some research has confirmed that environmental factors are related to the risk of illness and death from cardiovascular diseases (including atrial fibrillation), while there is still little comparison on the situation of the two cities in China. This research uses medical data in Shanghai and Kunming establishing, through two-step research, logistic models to compare the impacts on atrial fibrillation incidence to figure out the association between environmental factors (including air pollution, weather, temperature, and wind scales) and atrial fibrillation. Finally, this research shows that environmental impacts on atrial fibrillation prevalence have generality, regionality, and lagging characteristics. The result is significant for atrial fibrillation patients and provides a reliable medical theory basis for nursing measures. Besides, this research provides a prospective method of offering early warning for potential atrial fibrillation patients, helping to maintain human beings’ sustainable development.
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