Gaseous air pollution and emergency hospital visits for hypertension in Beijing, China: a time-stratified case-crossover study

Yuming Guo,Shanshan Li,Weiwei Yu,Xiaochuan Pan,Yanshen Zhang,Shilu Tong,Adrian G Barnett

doi:10.1186/1476-069x-9-57

Abstract

BackgroundA number of epidemiological studies have been conducted to research the adverse effects of air pollution on mortality and morbidity. Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. However, few previous studies have examined the relationship between gaseous air pollution and morbidity for hypertension.MethodsDaily data on emergency hospital visits (EHVs) for hypertension were collected from the Peking University Third Hospital. Daily data on gaseous air pollutants (sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) and particulate matter less than 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) were collected from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center. A time-stratified case-crossover design was conducted to evaluate the relationship between urban gaseous air pollution and EHVs for hypertension. Temperature and relative humidity were controlled for.ResultsIn the single air pollutant models, a 10 μg/m3 increase in SO2 and NO2 were significantly associated with EHVs for hypertension. The odds ratios (ORs) were 1.037 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.004-1.071) for SO2 at lag 0 day, and 1.101 (95% CI: 1.038-1.168) for NO2 at lag 3 day. After controlling for PM10, the ORs associated with SO2 and NO2 were 1.025 (95% CI: 0.987-1.065) and 1.114 (95% CI: 1.037-1.195), respectively.ConclusionElevated urban gaseous air pollution was associated with increased EHVs for hypertension in Beijing, China.

Highlights

A number of epidemiological studies have been conducted to research the adverse effects of air pollution on mortality and morbidity
Data on air pollution and weather condition We accessed daily data on urban sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter less than 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center
The results show that the adverse effects of SO2 on emergency hospital visits (EHVs) for hypertension were statistically significant at lags of 0 and lag 2 days, while the impact of NO2 was significant at lags of 0, 2, and 3 days

Summary

Introduction

A number of epidemiological studies have been conducted to research the adverse effects of air pollution on mortality and morbidity. Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. Few previous studies have examined the relationship between gaseous air pollution and morbidity for hypertension. Many studies focused on the relationship between ambient air pollution and subgroups of cardiovascular diseases such as Hypertension is one of the most serious risk factors for deaths and disease worldwide [14], but is a major contributor to chronic heart failure, and a major risk factor for stroke and coronary heart disease, and their progression [15]. Air pollution may induce hypertension, so it is necessary to examine the relationship between air pollution and hypertension

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Discussion

Conclusion