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Fine particulate air pollution and premature atrial contractions: The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 27, pages 271–275 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

Several reports have suggested that particulate matter (PM) exposure increases the risk for atrial arrhythmias. However, data from large-scale epidemiologic studies supporting this hypothesis are lacking. We examined the association of PM <2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) concentration with premature atrial contractions (PACs) in 26,609 (mean age=65±9.4 years; 55% female; 41% black) participants from the REGARDS (REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) study. Estimates of short- (2 weeks) and long-term (1 year) PM2.5 exposure were computed before each participant’s baseline visit using geographic information system data on the individual level at the coordinates of study participants’ residences. PACs were identified from baseline electrocardiograms. A total of 2140 (8.2%) participants had evidence of PACs on the baseline electrocardiogram. Short-term PM2.5 (per 10 μg/m3) exposure was not associated with PACs (OR=1.09, 95% CI=0.98, 1.23). Increases in long-term PM2.5 (per 10 μg/m3) were associated with PACs (OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.10, 1.78). Interactions were not detected for short- and long-term PM2.5 exposure by age, sex, or race. Long- but not short-term PM2.5 exposure is associated with PACs. This suggests a role for long-term PM2.5 exposure in initiating supraventricular arrhythmias that are triggered by PACs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the other investigators, the staff, and the participants of the REGARDS study for their valuable contributions. A full list of participating REGARDS investigators and institutions can be found at http://www.regardsstudy.org. This research project is supported by a cooperative agreement U01 NS041588 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Service, as well as from the NASA Applied Sciences Program. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, or NASA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Wesley T O'Neal

  2. Department of Medicine, Section on Cardiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

    Elsayed Z Soliman

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Epidemiological Cardiology Research Center (EPICARE), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

    Elsayed Z Soliman

  4. Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, East Carolina Heart Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA

    Jimmy T Efird

  5. Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

    Suzanne E Judd & George Howard

  6. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

    Virginia J Howard

  7. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Leslie A McClure

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  1. Wesley T O'Neal
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Correspondence to Wesley T O'Neal.

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O'Neal, W., Soliman, E., Efird, J. et al. Fine particulate air pollution and premature atrial contractions: The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 27, 271–275 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2016.46

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