Increased resting heart rate with pollutants in a population based study.
BACKGROUND
Air pollution is associated with cardiovascular mortality. Changes in the autonomic nervous system may contribute to cardiac arrhythmias and cardiovascular mortality. This study investigated the relations between air pollutant concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO(2)), ozone (O(3)), nitric dioxide (NO(2)), and resting heart rate (RHR) in a population based study.


METHODS
A sample of 863 middle aged men and women, living in Toulouse (MONICA centre) area, was randomly recruited. A cross sectional survey on cardiovascular risk factors was carried. RHR was measured twice in a sitting position after a five minute rest. Multivariate analyses with quintiles of RHR were performed using polytomous logistic regression. Models were adjusted for temperature, season, relative humidity, sex, physical activity, blood pressure, C reactive protein, and cardiovascular drugs.


RESULTS
For NO(2), the OR (odds ratio) (95% CI) associated with an increase of 5 microg/m(3) in the current day of medical examination was 1.14 (1.03 to 1.25) in quintile Q5 of RHR compared with Q1, p for trend = 0.003. For SO(2), OR was 1.16 (0.94 to 1.44) in Q5 compared with Q1, p for trend = 0.05, and for O(3), OR was 0.96 (0.91 to 1.01) in Q5 compared with Q1, p for trend = 0.11. No significant association was seen when the daily mean concentration of NO(2), SO(2), and O(3) was considered during the previous day as well as when day lag 2 or 3 was considered. The cumulative concentration (three consecutive days) of O(3) is negatively associated with RHR (p for trend = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in pulse rate could reflect cardiac rhythm changes and may be part of the pathophysiological link between pollution and cardiovascular mortality.
Ruidavets
Jean-Bernard
JB
INSERM U558, Faculté de Médecine, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073 Toulouse cedex, France. jean-bernard.ruidavets@cict.fr
Cassadou
Sylvie
S
Cournot
Maxime
M
Bataille
Vincent
V
Meybeck
Mariam
M
Ferrières
Jean
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013696:Temperature
D000393:Air Pollutants; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide