The causal effect of air pollution on the risk of essential hypertension: a Mendelian randomization study

Zhiwei Xia; Yinjiang Liu; Chao Liu; Ziyu Dai; Xisong Liang; Nan Zhang; Wantao Wu; Jie Wen; Hao Zhang

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1247149

The causal effect of air pollution on the risk of essential hypertension: a Mendelian randomization study

Front Public Health. 2024 Feb 15:12:1247149. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1247149. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Zhiwei Xia^#¹, Yinjiang Liu^#², Chao Liu³, Ziyu Dai^{4

5}, Xisong Liang^{4

5}, Nan Zhang⁶, Wantao Wu⁷, Jie Wen^{4

5}, Hao Zhang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Hunan Aerospace Hospital, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
² Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, Central Hospital of Zhuzhou, Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, China.
⁴ Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
⁵ National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
⁶ College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
⁷ Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Air pollution poses a major threat to human health by causing various illnesses, such as cardiovascular diseases. While plenty of research indicates a correlation between air pollution and hypertension, a definitive answer has yet to be found.

Methods: Our analyses were performed using the Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of exposure to air pollutants from UKB (PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, and NO_X; n = 423,796 to 456,380), essential hypertension from FinnGen (42,857 cases and 162,837 controls) and from UKB (54,358 cases and 408,652 controls) as a validated cohort. Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) were conducted to investigate the causal relationship between air pollutants and essential hypertension. Body mass index (BMI), alcohol intake frequency, and the number of cigarettes previously smoked daily were included in multivariable MRs (MVMRs) as potential mediators/confounders.

Results: Our findings suggested that higher levels of both PM2.5 (OR [95%CI] per 1 SD increase in predicted exposure = 1.24 [1.02-1.53], p = 3.46E-02 from Finn; OR [95%CI] = 1.04 [1.02-1.06], p = 7.58E-05 from UKB) and PM10 (OR [95%CI] = 1.24 [1.02-1.53], p = 3.46E-02 from Finn; OR [95%CI] = 1.04 [1.02-1.06], p = 7.58E-05 from UKB) were linked to an increased risk for essential hypertension. Even though we used MVMR to adjust for the impacts of smoking and drinking on the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and essential hypertension risks, our findings suggested that although there was a direct positive connection between them, it is not present after adjusting BMI (OR [95%CI] = 1.05 [0.87-1.27], p = 6.17E-01). Based on the study, higher exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 increases the chances of developing essential hypertension, and this influence could occur through mediation by BMI.

Conclusion: Exposure to both PM2.5 and PM10 is thought to have a causal relationship with essential hypertension. Those impacted by substantial levels of air pollution require more significant consideration for their cardiovascular health.

Keywords: Mendelian randomization (MR); PM10; PM2.5; air pollution; hypertension.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / adverse effects
Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / adverse effects
Air Pollution* / analysis
Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
Essential Hypertension / chemically induced
Genome-Wide Association Study
Humans
Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Particulate Matter / adverse effects
Particulate Matter / analysis

Substances

Particulate Matter
Air Pollutants