Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies demonstrated that lower outdoor temperatures increase the levels of established cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as blood pressure and lipids. Whether or not low temperatures increase novel cardiovascular disease risk factors levels is not well studied. The aim was to investigate associations of outdoor temperature with a comprehensive range of established and novel cardiovascular disease risk factors in two large Northern European studies of older adults, in whom cardiovascular disease risk is increased.Design and methodsData came from the British Regional Heart Study (4252 men aged 60–79 years) and the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (5804 men and women aged 70–82 years). Associations between outdoor temperature and cardiovascular disease risk factors were quantified in each study and then pooled using a random effects model.ResultsWith a 5℃ lower mean temperature, total cholesterol was 0.04 mmol/l (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02–0.07) higher, low density lipoprotein cholesterol was 0.02 mmol/l (95% CI 0.01–0.05) higher and SBP was 1.12 mm Hg (95% CI 0.60–1.64) higher. Among novel cardiovascular disease risk factors, C-reactive protein was 3.3% (95% CI 1.0–5.6%) higher, interleukin-6 was 2.7% (95% CI 1.1–4.3%) higher, and vitamin D was 11.2% (95% CI 1.0–20.4%) lower.ConclusionsLower outdoor temperature was associated with adverse effects on cholesterol, blood pressure, circulating inflammatory markers, and vitamin D in two older populations. Public health approaches to protect the elderly against low temperatures could help in reducing the levels of several cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Highlights
In the UK and most European countries, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk increases at lower temperatures, a typical element of the cold season.[1,2] As CVD risk during the cold season is more markedly increased in older rather than younger adults,[3] investigating temperature-related variations in CVD risk factors in older adults is of particular interest.It has been hypothesised that lower outdoor temperatures could exert their adverse effects by increasing the levels of well-established risk factors causally associated with coronary heart disease (CHD),[4,5] suchEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology 24(4)as blood pressure[6] and lipids.[7]
The CVD risk factors investigated here were selected for two reasons: first, there was published evidence of seasonal variation, with higher levels observed in the cold season (November–April); second, there was published
Our study provides robust evidence that outdoor temperature is associated with variations in the major CVD risk factors in older adults
Summary
In the UK and most European countries, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk increases at lower temperatures, a typical element of the cold season.[1,2] As CVD risk during the cold season is more markedly increased in older rather than younger adults,[3] investigating temperature-related variations in CVD risk factors in older adults is of particular interest.It has been hypothesised that lower outdoor temperatures could exert their adverse effects by increasing the levels of well-established risk factors causally associated with coronary heart disease (CHD),[4,5] suchEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology 24(4)as blood pressure[6] and lipids.[7]. It has been hypothesised that lower outdoor temperatures could exert their adverse effects by increasing the levels of well-established risk factors causally associated with coronary heart disease (CHD),[4,5] such. Previous studies demonstrated that lower outdoor temperatures increase the levels of established cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as blood pressure and lipids. Whether or not low temperatures increase novel cardiovascular disease risk factors levels is not well studied. The aim was to investigate associations of outdoor temperature with a comprehensive range of established and novel cardiovascular disease risk factors in two large Northern European studies of older adults, in whom cardiovascular disease risk is increased. Associations between outdoor temperature and cardiovascular disease risk factors were quantified in each study and pooled using a random effects model. Public health approaches to protect the elderly against low temperatures could help in reducing the levels of several cardiovascular disease risk factors
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
