Fine Particle Air Pollution (PM 2.5) and Cardiovascular Hospitalization in Isfahan in 2012: CAPACITY Study

Abstract

<span><strong><em>Background: </em></strong><span>This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between exposure to PM<span>2.5 <span>and the<span> number of hospital admissions due to cardiovascular diseases.<br /><span><strong><em>Methods: </em></strong><span>The present time-series, case-crossover study is a part of the CAPACITY study on<span> patients admitted to 15 hospitals in the Iranian city of Isfahan because of cardiovascular<span> diseases in 2012. PM<span>2.5 <span>concentrations were calculated in air pollution monitoring<span> stations and divided into 3 groups of good or moderate, unhealthy for sensitive people,<span> and unhealthy or hazardous. The relationship between the number of admissions and fine<span> particle concentrations was assessed.<br /><span><strong><em>Results: </em></strong><span>This study evaluated 15752 participants at a mean age of 59 ± 19.4 years. Men<span> accounted for 52.6% (n = 8282) of the study population. The mean concentration of fine<span> particles was 53.77 ± 29.65 micrometers. In most days of the year, the concentration of<span> PM<span>2.5 <span>was at an unhealthy level for sensitive people. Poisson regression analysis showed<span> a significant correlation between the number of hospital admissions due to cardiovascular<span> diseases and ischemic heart diseases and fine particle concentrations in the unhealthy<span> level for sensitive people (<span><em>P </em><span>= 0.001, <span><em>P </em><span>= 0.001, and <span><em>P </em><span>= 0.002). There was a significant<span> correlation between PM<span>2.5 <span>concentrations and the number of admissions due to<span> conductive heart diseases and heart blocks in unhealthy or hazardous levels (<span><em>P </em><span>= 0.02 and<br /><span><em>P </em><span>= 0.04).<br /><span><strong><em>Conclusions: </em></strong><span>The number of hospital admissions due to cardiovascular diseases can increase<span> during air pollution, especially when the concentrations of PM<span>2.5 <span>are elevated.</span></span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>