Surveillance of the short-term impact of fine particle air pollution on cardiovascular disease hospitalizations in New York State.
BACKGROUND
Studies have shown that the effects of particulate matter on health vary based on factors including the vulnerability of the population, health care practices, exposure factors, and the pollutant mix.


METHODS
We used time-stratified case-crossover to estimate differences in the short-term impacts of PM2.5 on cardiovascular disease hospital admissions in New York State by geographic area, year, age, gender, co-morbid conditions, and area poverty rates.


RESULTS
PM2.5 had a stronger impact on heart failure than other cardiovascular diagnoses, with 3.1% of heart failure admissions attributable to short-term PM2.5 exposure over background levels of 5 ug/m3. Older adults were significantly more susceptible to heart failure after short-term ambient PM2.5 exposure than younger adults.


CONCLUSIONS
The short-term impact of PM2.5 on cardiovascular disease admissions, and modifications of that impact, are small and difficult to measure with precision. Multi-state collaborations will be necessary to attain more precision to describe spatiotemporal differences in health impacts.
Haley
Valerie B
VB
Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA. vbh03@health.state.ny.us
Talbot
Thomas O
TO
Felton
Henry D
HD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter