Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Honda, Trenton J

Titel

Long-term air pollution exposure and cardiovascular risk factors in older Americans

Ort / Verlag

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Erscheinungsjahr

2016

Quelle

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background: Air pollution is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Less is known about how air pollution acts to increase cardiovascular risk. Many clinical intermediate conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and anemia are known to increase cardiovascular risk. We investigate whether air pollution is associated with these intermediate conditions. Methods: We use a variety of analytical methods to evaluate associations between air pollution (particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide) and hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and anemia in older Americans. Associations for hypertension were explored in two large, national cohorts (Women’s Health Initiative, WHI; National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, NSHAP); associations for diabetes and anemia were explored in one (NSHAP). Models were adjusted for a number of demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral and health variables. Results: We observed increased exposure to air pollution to be significantly associated with increased incidence and prevalence of hypertension as well as continuous blood pressure measures. Elevated particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide exposures were also found to be associated with increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and anemia as well as increased glycosylated hemoglobin and decreased hemoglobin levels. Conclusions: Air pollution was found to be significantly associated with hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and anemia in older Americans. If causal, it is possible that long-term air pollution exposure increases cardiovascular risk partly by increasing the risk of these clinical intermediate conditions.