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Association Between Air Pollution and Monday Peak Mortality From Acute Myocardial Infarction
Ruben Lévy1, Laurent Lévy2, Joan Ballester3
1Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Medical School of the University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Division of Geriatrics, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals, Thônex, Switzerland.
Background:
Mortality from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) exhibits a weekly pattern, with a peak occurring on Mondays. Although several hypotheses have been proposed, the effect of air pollution on this peak has not yet been investigated.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to investigate if daily variation in major air pollutants modifies the risk of AMI mortality on Monday.
Methods:
A time-series study analyzed 260,320 AMI deaths in Spain from 2004 to 2018, using records from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. Air pollution (ie, PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone) levels were estimated across the mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. Regression models and multilevel meta-analysis were used to assess the weekly variation in AMI mortality and the association between air pollution and the Monday excess in AMI mortality.
Results:
AMI mortality varied throughout the week, peaking on Monday (+3.7% above the weekly average). Particulate air pollution (PM2.5, PM10) also showed a weekly pattern, with lower levels on weekends than weekdays. A significant increase in PM2.5 and PM10 levels was observed from Sunday to Monday (12.6% and 12.0%, respectively), but not between other weekdays. After adjustment for inter-weekly baseline mortality changes, the intra-weekly pattern in AMI mortality was not modified by either the absolute level or the inter-day change in air pollutants. In addition, no association was found between air pollution and the Monday peak in AMI mortality.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that the excess AMI mortality observed on Mondays in the Spanish population is not explained by concurrent variations in major air pollutants.
Insights
The Monday peak in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mortality is not linked to air pollution levels. This study found no association between daily air pollutant variations and increased AMI deaths on Mondays.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
- Time-Series Analysis
Background:
- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mortality shows a weekly pattern, peaking on Mondays.
- The influence of air pollution on this Monday excess in AMI deaths remains uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if daily fluctuations in major air pollutants modify the risk of AMI mortality on Mondays.
- Investigating the link between air quality and the observed Monday peak in cardiac mortality.
Main Methods:
- A time-series analysis of 260,320 AMI deaths in Spain (2004-2018).
- Assessed daily levels of PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone.
- Employed regression models and multilevel meta-analysis to examine weekly AMI mortality patterns and air pollution associations.
Main Results:
- AMI mortality peaked on Mondays (+3.7%).
- Particulate air pollution (PM2.5, PM10) exhibited weekly patterns, with lower weekend levels.
- No significant association was found between air pollutant levels or changes and the Monday excess in AMI mortality.
Conclusions:
- The excess AMI mortality on Mondays in Spain is not attributable to concurrent variations in major air pollutants.
- Findings suggest other factors contribute to the Monday peak in acute myocardial infarction deaths.
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