Runs of ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia triggered by air pollution in patients with coronary heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
The authors conducted an investigation of the association between air pollution and arrhythmia.


METHODS
A prospective panel study (October 2000-April 2001) was conducted in Erfurt, Germany. Fifty-seven men with coronary heart disease were subjected to six 24-hour electrocardiogram recordings. Runs of supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia were associated with continuous ultrafine particle counts (UFP), accumulation mode particle counts (ACP), PM2.5, and gaseous pollutants. Poisson and linear regression models were applied adjusting for trend, weekday, and meteorologic data.


RESULTS
Elevated concentrations of UFP, ACP, PM2.5, and nitrogen dioxide increased the risk for supraventricular runs and the number of ventricular runs at almost all lags. Statistically significant associations were found predominantly in the previous 24 to 71 hours and with the 5-day moving average.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated concentrations of fine and ultrafine particle increased the risk of arrhythmia in men with coronary heart disease.
Berger
Annette
A
Institute of Epidemiology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
Zareba
Wojciech
W
Schneider
Alexandra
A
Rückerl
Regina
R
Ibald-Mulli
Angela
A
Cyrys
Josef
J
Wichmann
H-Erich
HE
Peters
Annette
A
D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000209:etiology*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009609:Nitrous Oxide