Association Between Long-Term Air Pollution and Increased Blood Pressure and Hypertension in China

• Published in: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Vol. 61; no. 3; pp. 578 - 584
• Main Authors: Dong, Guang-Hui, Qian, Zhengmin (Min), Xaverius, Pamela K, Trevathan, Edwin, Maalouf, Salwa, Parker, Jamaal, Yang, Laiji, Liu, Miao-Miao, Wang, Da, Ren, Wan-Hui, Ma, Wenjun, Wang, Jing, Zelicoff, Alan, Fu, Qiang, Simckes, Maayan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD American Heart Association, Inc 01.03.2013; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Adult; Air Pollutants - adverse effects; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Air Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure; Cardiology. Vascular system; China - epidemiology; Cities - epidemiology; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Female; Humans; Hypertension - epidemiology; Hypertension - etiology; Incidence; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Nitrogen Dioxide - adverse effects; Nitrogen Dioxide - analysis; Ozone - adverse effects; Ozone - analysis; Particulate Matter - adverse effects; Particulate Matter - analysis; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Sulfur Dioxide - adverse effects; Sulfur Dioxide - analysis; Asia; China; Hypertension; Chinese; Cardiovascular disease; Arterial pressure; ambient air pollutants; Blood pressure
• ISSN: 0194-911X; 1524-4563
• DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.111.00003

Several studies have investigated the short-term effects of ambient air pollutants in the development of high blood pressure and hypertension. However, little information exists regarding the health effects of long-term exposure. To investigate the association between residential long-term exposure to air pollution and blood pressure and hypertension, we studied 24 845 Chinese adults in 11 districts of 3 northeastern cities from 2009 to 2010. Three-year average concentration of particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 µm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxides (NO2), and ozone (O3) were calculated from monitoring stations in the 11 districts. We used generalized additive models and 2-level logistic regressions models to examine the health effects. The results showed that the odds ratio for hypertension increased by 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.16) per 19 μg/m increase in PM10, 1.11 (95% CI, 1.04–1.18) per 20 μg/m increase in SO2, and 1.13 (95% CI, 1.06–1.20) per 22 μg/m increase in O3. The estimated increases in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 0.87 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.48–1.27) and 0.32 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.08–0.56) per 19 μg/m interquartile increase in PM10, 0.80 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.46–1.14) and 0.31 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.10–0.51) per 20 μg/m interquartile increase in SO2, and 0.73 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.35–1.11) and 0.37 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.14–0.61) per 22 μg/m interquartile increase in O3. These associations were only statistically significant in men. In conclusion, long-term exposure to PM10, SO2, and O3 was associated with increased arterial blood pressure and hypertension in the study population.