PM2.5 Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease-Associated Disability among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Yanan Luo; Tao Xue; Yihao Zhao; Tong Zhu; Xiaoying Zheng

doi:10.5334/gh.1118

PM_2.5 Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease-Associated Disability among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Glob Heart. 2022 Jun 16;17(1):41. doi: 10.5334/gh.1118. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Yanan Luo¹, Tao Xue^{2

3}, Yihao Zhao⁴, Tong Zhu⁵, Xiaoying Zheng⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
² Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
⁴ Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, School of Population Medicine and Public Health, China.
⁵ BIC-ESAT and SKL-ESPC, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.

PMID: 35837365
PMCID: PMC9205374
DOI: 10.5334/gh.1118

Abstract

Background: Increasing evidence regards the role of ambient particles on morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, there was no evidence about the association between ambient particles and CVD-associated disability. This study used large national representative data to investigate the relationship between long-term exposure to an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM_2.5) and CVD-associated disability among Chinese adults aged 45 years old and above and estimated the burden of CVD-associated disability attributed to PM_2.5.

Methods: Using data from the Second National Sample Survey on Disability, this study used a combination of self-reports or family members' reports and on-site medical diagnosis by experienced specialists to ascertain CVD-associated disability in 852,742 adults aged 45 years old and above. Logistic regression models and spline regression models were used to examine the association between PM_2.5 long-term exposure and CVD-associated disability, and the population attributable risk was calculated to assess the burden of CVD-associated disability contributed to PM_2.5.

Results: Every increase of 10 μg/m³ in PM_2.5 was associated with an 8% (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.10) increase the odds of CVD-associated disability. Stratified analyses by demographic factors suggested that this association was robust. There were 1.05 (0.74,1.35) million -3.53 (3.29,3.75) million CVD-associated disabilities attributed to high PM_2.5 concentration exposure (≥35 µg/m³) among middle-aged and older adults in 2006. A reduction in PM_2.5 concentrations to 35 µg/m³ corresponded to a decrease of 13.59% (9.55%, 17.46%)-23.98% (17.17%, 30.25%) in CVD-associated disability by age group, respectively, and this magnitude increased in areas with a high prevalence of CVD-related disability.

Conclusions: This study suggests that reducing PM_2.5 concentrations may contribute to preventing CVD-associated disability and decreasing air pollution-related medical expenditures and rehabilitation fees.

Keywords: aged and older adults; ambient particles; cardiovascular diseases; disability.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Air Pollution* / adverse effects
Cardiovascular Diseases*
Humans
Middle Aged
Particulate Matter / adverse effects
Particulate Matter / analysis
Prevalence

Substances

Particulate Matter

Grants and funding

The authors would like to thank all co-workers. We would also like to extend our thanks to the invaluable contributions of the study participants and data collection staff. This work was supported by Major Project of the National Social Science Fund of China (21&ZD187) and National Social Science Fund of China (21CRK014).