Long-Term Exposure to Particulate Matter and Self-Reported Hypertension: A Prospective Analysis in the Nurses’ Health Study

Abstract

Background:Studies have suggested associations between elevated blood pressure and short-term air pollution exposures, but the evidence is mixed regarding long-term exposures on incidence of hypertension.Objectives:We examined the association of hypertension incidence with long-term residential exposures to ambient particulate matter (PM) and residential distance to roadway.Methods:We estimated 24-month and cumulative average exposures to PM10, PM2.5, and PM2.5–10 and residential distance to road for women participating in the prospective nationwide Nurses’ Health Study. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for incident hypertension from 1988 to 2008 using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for potential confounders. We considered effect modification by age, diet, diabetes, obesity, region, and latitude.Results:Among 74,880 participants, 36,812 incident cases of hypertension were observed during 960,041 person-years. In multivariable models, 10-μg/m3 increases in 24-month average PM10, PM2.5, and PM2.5–10 were associated with small increases in the incidence of hypertension (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.04; HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07; and HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07, respectively). Associations were stronger among women < 65 years of age (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.06; HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.12; and HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09, respectively) and the obese (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.12; HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.23; and HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.19, respectively), with p-values for interaction < 0.05 for all models except age and PM2.5–10. There was no association with roadway proximity.Conclusions:Long-term exposure to particulate matter was associated with small increases in risk of incident hypertension, particularly among younger women and the obese.Citation:Zhang Z, Laden F, Forman JP, Hart JE. 2016. Long-term exposure to particulate matter and self-reported hypertension: a prospective analysis in the Nurses’ Health Study. Environ Health Perspect 124:1414–1420; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP163

Long-term exposure to residential ambient fine and coarse particulate matter and incident hypertension in post-menopausal women

“…This is similar to our results for Black participants rescaled to 10 μg/m 3 (HR 1.58, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.09). Zhang et al (2016) reported a pattern of significant findings similar but weaker than ours, with a 10 μg/m 3 increase in 24-month average PM 2.5 (HR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07), PM 10-2.5 (1.03, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07) and PM 10 (HR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.04) all associated with self-reported incident hypertension in an analysis of the Nurses Health Study [20]. Interestingly, Zhang et al reported significant interactions by BMI, as well as higher risk among individuals younger than 65 years, which is consistent with our findings for PM 2.5 and PM 10 , respectively.…”

“…A separate body of literature has evaluated the association between daily changes in pollutant levels and blood pressure measures [18, 19]. However, only a few previous studies have investigated links between long-term air pollution and incident hypertension [17, 20–22]. Of these studies, only one has been performed in the context of a large, national US cohort, and that study examined associations with self-reported hypertension [20].…”

“…However, only a few previous studies have investigated links between long-term air pollution and incident hypertension [17, 20–22]. Of these studies, only one has been performed in the context of a large, national US cohort, and that study examined associations with self-reported hypertension [20]. As hypertension is an established risk factor for adverse cardiovascular health outcomes [8], additional research is needed to further elucidate the association between PM 2.5 and the risk of incident hypertension.…”

Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and liver enzymes in adults: a cross-sectional study in Taiwan

“…Afterwards, the mean of these two averages (2-year average PM 2.5 ) was calculated as an indicator to long-term exposure to PM 2.5 air pollution. We used the 2-year average PM 2.5 to keep consistent with our previous studies,12 26 and it has also been used in studies in the USA 28…”

Material particulado y gases contaminantes en la comuna de El Bosque ¿cuánto influyen en la cantidad de consultas por enfermedades respiratorias?

“…Debido a esto se han realizado múltiples estudios con el fin de establecer el daño causado, tanto por el material particulado como por los gases contaminantes, siendo las relaciones más conocidas el aumento de la mortalidad 1,2 por exposición a corto plazo 3 y a largo plazo 4 , la asociación con enfermedades cardiovasculares, incluidas la hipertensión arterial 5 y la menor sobrevida de personas con infarto de miocardio 6 , alteraciones cardiopulmonares 7 , problemas respiratorios como disminución de la función pulmonar 8 y aparición de asma en niños 9 asociaciones con condiciones como disminución de la función renal 10 y alteraciones cognitivas 11 en adultos mayores.…”