Individual exposure to particulate matter and the short-term arrhythmic and autonomic profiles in patients with myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological studies show that peak exposure to air pollution is associated with increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular events. Panel and controlled exposure studies show that particulate matter (PM) may influence the parasympathetic regulation of the heart. The aim of this study was to concurrently measure individual exposure to PM of various sizes, heart rate variability (HRV), and electrical instability in patients with myocardial infarction.


RESULTS
Personal exposures to PM(10), PM(2.5), and PM(0.25) was measured over 24 h in 39 patients (36 males, 3 females; mean age 60.3 years) with prior myocardial infarction (>6 months). Simultaneously, a 24 h ECG was recorded and then analysed for HRV and ventricular arrhythmias. Breath condensate and blood samples also were collected at the end of monitoring to measure several indexes of inflammation. Negative correlation was found between HRV and exposure to PM(0.25) in a group of patients not taking beta-blockers. More severe ventricular arrhythmias were observed at the highest concentrations of PM(10) and PM(2.5). Indexes of inflammation in either breath condensate or blood did not correlate with PM exposures.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that exposure to ultrafine particles is associated with autonomic dysregulation in selected patients with myocardial infarction. More severe arrhythmias occur at the highest exposures to larger particles. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms remain hypothetical because inflammation may be evoked by PM or be related to the disease itself.
Department of Cardiology, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2, Padova 35128, Italy. franco.folino@unipd.it
Antonio F
AF
Folino
Maria Luisa
ML
Scapellato
Cristina
C
Canova
Piero
P
Maestrelli
Giuseppina
G
Bertorelli
Lorenzo
L
Simonato
Sabino
S
Iliceto
Marcello
M
Lotti
D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods
D000393:Air Pollutants; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D052638:Particulate Matter