title: Traffic-related air pollution and the right ventricle. The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Right heart failure is a cause of morbidity and mortality in common and rare heart and lung diseases. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution is linked to left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and death. Relationships between traffic-related air pollution and right ventricular (RV) structure and function have not been studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the relationship between traffic-related air pollutants and RV structure and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included men and women with magnetic resonance imaging assessment of RV structure and function and estimated residential outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations from the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a study of individuals free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline. Multivariable linear regression estimated associations between NO2 exposure (averaged over the year prior to magnetic resonance imaging) and measures of RV structure and function after adjusting for demographics, anthropometrics, smoking status, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Adjustment for corresponding left ventricular parameters, traffic-related noise, markers of inflammation, and lung disease were considered in separate models. Secondary analyses considered oxides of nitrogen (NOx) as the exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample included 3,896 participants. In fully adjusted models, higher NO2 was associated with greater RV mass and larger RV end-diastolic volume with or without further adjustment for corresponding left ventricular parameters, traffic-related noise, inflammatory markers, or lung disease (all P < 0.05). There was no association between NO2 and RV ejection fraction. Relationships between NOx and RV morphology were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher levels of NO2 exposure were associated with greater RV mass and larger RV end-diastolic volume.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Medicine.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Leary
authors.forename: Joel D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: R Graham
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bluemke
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Curl
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hough
authors.forename: Joao A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Adam A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Szpiro
authors.forename: Victor C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Van Hee
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kawut
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001213:Asian; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide