Association of ambient fine particles with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in New York City.
Cardiovascular morbidity has been associated with particulate matter (PM) air pollution, although the relation between pollutants and sudden death from cardiac arrest has not been established. This study examined associations between out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and fine PM (of aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm, or PM(2.5)), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide in New York City. The authors analyzed 8,216 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of primary cardiac etiology during the years 2002-2006. Time-series and case-crossover analyses were conducted, controlling for season, day-of-week, same-day, and delayed/apparent temperature. An increased risk of cardiac arrest in time-series (relative risk (RR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 1.10) and case-crossover (RR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.08) analysis for a PM(2.5) increase of 10 μg/m³ in the average of 0- and 1-day lags was found. The association was significant in the warm season (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.15) but not the cold season (RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.07). Associations of cardiac arrest with other pollutants were weaker. These findings, consistent with studies implicating acute cardiovascular effects of PM, support a link between PM(2.5) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Since few individuals survive an arrest, air pollution control may help prevent future cardiovascular mortality.
Silverman
Robert A
RA
Department of Emergency Medicine, NS-LIJ Health System, New York, New York, USA. aresilv@aol.com
Ito
Kazuhiko
K
Freese
John
J
Kaufman
Brad J
BJ
De Claro
Danilynn
D
Braun
James
J
Prezant
David J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000633:toxicity; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D010126:Ozone / Q000633:toxicity; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D013696:Temperature
D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide