Association of residential distance to coast with myocardial infarction: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Abstract Background Little is known about whether the residential distance to coast is associated with incident myocardial infarction (MI), as well as which mechanisms may explain the association. We aim to explore this association using data from a prospective, population-based cohort with unprecedented sample size and broad geographical coverage. Methods 377,340 participants from the prospective, population-based UK Biobank cohort were included. Residential distance to the coast was defined as participant's residence location to coast. Results 4,059 MI occurred during median 8.0 years follow-up. Using group (<1 km) as reference, group (20–50 km) was associated with lower risk of MI (hazard ratio, HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64–0.98) and a U-shaped relation between distance to coast and MI was shown with the low risk interval between 32 km and 64 km (Pnonlinear = 0.0012). Using participants of intermediate region (32–64 km) as reference, participants of offshore region (<32 km) and inland region (>64 km) were both associated with a higher risk of incident MI (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04–1.21 and HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01–1.18, respectively). HR for offshore region (<32 km) was larger in subgroup with low total physical activity (<24 hours/week) (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.09–1.42, Pinteraction = 0.043), whereas HR for inland region (>64 km) was larger in subgroup in urban area (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03–1.22, Pinteraction = 0.065) and in subgroup of high nitrogen dioxide air pollution (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11–1.50, Pinteraction = 0.021). Conclusions Our findings highlight the complex and diverse associations between residential distance to the coast and incident MI. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1