Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025

Aggravation of Myocardial Ischemia upon Particulate Matter Exposure in Atherosclerosis Animal Model
Published on: December 10, 2021
Effect of intermediate-term firewood smoke air pollution on cardiometabolic risk factors and inflammatory markers
Fernando Lanas1, Nicolás Saavedra2, Kathleen Saavedra2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
Background:
Temuco is a city in Southern Chile with elevated levels of air pollution (AP), mainly due to using wood as combustion throughout the cold season. The study aimed to assess the differences in cardiometabolic risk factors, estimated cardiovascular risk, and blood level of inflammatory markers between high AP (HAP) and low AP (LAP) periods.
Methods:
A prospective panel study was conducted between January to September 2018. Air pollution was assessed by PM2.5 concentration. Ninety individuals from the general population were included in the study. Measurements were performed in the HAP and LAP, including medical history and lifestyle, physical activity assessment, physical exam, and fasting blood samples for glucose, lipids, and circulatory inflammatory mediators.
Results:
In the high air pollution period, systolic blood pressure was 3 mmHg higher (p = 0.05). HDL-cholesterol was 14.2 mg/dl lower (p < 0.001), Framingham risk score increased from 14.5 to 18.0 (p < 0.001), and highly significant lower levels of interleukins, MCP1, MMP1, MMP2, sICAM, and svCAM were observed.
Conclusions:
HAP was associated with increased cardiometabolic risk factors and estimated cardiovascular risk. However, a lower level of circulating acute inflammatory molecules was observed. Inflammatory molecules blood levels were not associated with changes in cardiometabolic risk factors.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction

