Long-Term Ambient Air Pollution Exposure and the Risk of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases in Rural Chinese
Yaqi Zhao1,2, Xuefang Cao1,2, Jiang Du1,2
1NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, National Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.16 Tianrong Street, Beijing, 102629, China, 86 13311185615.
Background:
Long-term follow-up studies investigating the relationship between ambient air pollution and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in rural Chinese populations remain limited.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the impact of prolonged exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) on CVD in rural areas of China.
Methods:
On the basis of a multicenter population-based prospective study, adult rural residents (aged ≥15 y) from 3 study sites (ie, Xiangtan, Hunan Province; Longxi, Gansu Province; and Zhongmu, Henan Province) with different PM2.5 exposure levels were tracked for the incidence of CVD events between 2013 and 2023. The relationship was assessed by applying the Cox proportional hazards model and a trend test.
Results:
A total of 15,502 participants were included in the study. During the 10-year follow-up period, for every 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, the risks of CVD, ischemic stroke, coronary heart disease, acute coronary syndrome, and intracerebral hemorrhage increased by 5% (hazard ratio [HR] 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.06), 7% (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.06-1.08), 8% (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.07-1.09), 9% (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.06-1.11), and 10% (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.14), respectively. Furthermore, the risk in the high exposure group (Q4) was found to be significantly higher than that in the low exposure group (Q1; P for trend <.001). The subgroup analysis indicated that the risk of CVD was higher among older people compared to individuals aged <60 years, and the interaction effect was statistically significant (interaction P value=.03).
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that long-term exposure to PM2.5 significantly increases the risk of CVD in rural areas of China and shows regional differences. This finding may deepen our understanding of the potential public health risks associated with PM2.5 exposure and emphasize the crucial role of environmental governance in promoting public health outcomes.
More Related Videos
07:35Aggravation of Myocardial Ischemia upon Particulate Matter Exposure in Atherosclerosis Animal Model
Published on: December 10, 2021
09:33Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India
Published on: December 23, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:26Longitudinal Studies
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:36Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction