Ambient Air Pollution and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in People With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cohort Study

J Occup Environ Med. 2024 Oct 1;66(10):e500-e505. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003193. Epub 2024 Jul 16.

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to assess the effect of air pollution on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: We tracked 486 T2DM patients from 2012 to 2021. Cox regression models were applied to assess the hazard of exposure to particulate matter, carbon monoxide (CO), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) on incident CVD, revealing hazard ratios (HRs).

Results: CVD incidents occurred in 73 individuals. Among men, each 1-ppm increase in CO levels raised the risk of CVD (HR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.30-5.44). For women, a 5-ppb rise in SO 2 increased CVD risk (HR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.11-2.30). No notable impact of particulate pollutants was found.

Conclusions: Persistent exposure to gaseous air pollutants, specifically CO and SO 2 , is linked to the development of CVD in men and women with T2DM.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Air Pollutants* / adverse effects
  • Air Pollutants* / analysis
  • Air Pollution* / adverse effects
  • Air Pollution* / analysis
  • Carbon Monoxide* / adverse effects
  • Carbon Monoxide* / analysis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / epidemiology
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitrogen Dioxide / adverse effects
  • Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis
  • Ozone / adverse effects
  • Ozone / analysis
  • Particulate Matter* / adverse effects
  • Particulate Matter* / analysis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Sulfur Dioxide* / adverse effects
  • Sulfur Dioxide* / analysis

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Sulfur Dioxide
  • Nitrogen Dioxide
  • Ozone