Abstract 07: Cardiovascular Health and Environmental Justice Concerns of Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter: Insights From the Houston Methodist Outpatient Learning Health System Registry

Abstract

Air pollution remains a public health concern affecting cardiovascular outcomes. In particular, fine particulate matter measuring ≤ 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Of important concern is the potential for this impact to fall disproportionately on communities of low-income and color. We assessed whether living in neighborhoods with environmental justice concerns of exposure to PM 2.5 (EJPM 2.5 ) is associated with CV risk factor burden and CV health (CVH). Our cross-sectional study used data from approximately 1.07 million patients aged 18+ years in the Houston Methodist Outpatient Disease Learning Health System Registry (2016-2021). Linking to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Environmental Justice Screen (EJScreen) Database, each patient was assigned an EJPM 2.5 index, and then categorized into 1 of 5 quintiles according to their geocoded residential census block group. Individuals with missing data (n=27221) were excluded. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between EJPM 2.5 and CV risk factors and CVH. Poor CVH was defined as study participants with ≥ 3 CV risk factors.We included 1044382 patients (mean age 52.31, female 59%, NHB 14%, and 15% Hispanics). Overall, 18% (n=240286) had poor CV health. In our cohort, 27% (n=287077) of patients were exposed to worst PM 2.5 levels (5 th quintile). Overall, those with worst environmental justice concerns to PM 2.5 (EJPM 2.5 ) were associated with higher odds of HTN, DM, obesity and poor CVH. These associations were attenuated, but remain statistically significant accounting for clinical risk factors, demographics and socioeconomic factors. Table . Our findings demonstrate association between EJPM 2.5 and CVD risk factors/CVH. These robust findings support the need to prioritize environmental policies for reducing ambient pollution in communities of color and low-income as this may mitigate the CVD-associated health disparities in these communities