Particulate matter and ozone might trigger deaths from chronic ischemic heart disease

Aims: To study the association between short-term exposure to air pollutants and mortality of Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease (CIHD). Methods: Using a case-crossover design, we investigated 148,443 CIHD deaths from 2015 to 2020 in Jiangsu Province, China. Exposure to six ambient pollutants, including PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, SO2, and O-3, was assessed by extracting daily concentrations from validated 10 km x 10 km pollutant grids at each subject's residential address. A conditional logistic regression approach was used to explore the exposure-response relationship with adjustment for temperature and relative humidity. We calculated the Population Attributable Fractions (PAFs) and the attributable deaths number of CIHD. Results: An increase of 10 mu g/m(3) in PM10 and PM2.5 exposure was associated with a 1.16% (95% CI: 0.85-1.48%) and 1.80% (1.36-2.24%) increase in CIHD mortality, respectively. A threshold value of 123 mu g/m(3) was identified for the association between O-3 exposure and CIHD mortality. Controlling for PM2.5, each increase of 10 mu g/m(3) in O-3 (>threshold) was statistically significantly associated with a 0.94% (0.19-1.71%) increase in CIHD mortality, however there was no association between NO2, SO2, CO exposure and CIHD mortality. Reducing PM2.5, PM10 and O-3 to the WHO air quality guidelines would prevent 6.16% (95% CI: 4.70-7.58%), 4.30% (3.18-5.43%) and 1.29% (0.48-4.20%) of CIHD deaths, respectively. During the warm season, mortality and PAFs of CIHD associated with PM2.5, PM10, and O-3 were significantly higher. Conclusions: Short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5, PM10, and O-3 might trigger deaths from CIHD. These findings indicate that the premature deaths of CIHD patients can be alleviated by reducing exposure to polluted air.

Automated summary

Short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5, PM10, and O-3 may lead to deaths from CIHD. These findings suggest that reducing exposure to polluted air can alleviate premature deaths in CIHD patients.