title: Association between particulate air pollution and venous thromboembolism: A systematic literature review.
abstract: Air pollution is a leading global problem for public health. A number of ambient pollutants have been involved, including carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM). Although exposure to PM has been linked to a wide array of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, its effect on venous thrombotic disorders is still uncertain. To elucidate this issue, we have performed a systematic review on the existing literature on the association between PM and venous thromboembolism (VTE), using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane electronic databases. Of the 158 reviewed studies, 11 of them (3 case-crossover studies, 2 time-series studies, 2 case-control studies, 2 prospective cohort studies, 2 retrospective studies) involving more than 500,000 events fulfilled the inclusion criteria and results are presented here. Because there was substantial heterogeneity in study design, duration of follow-up, statistical measure of effects, clinical outcomes and threshold, we refrained to perform a quantitative analysis of the available data and carried out only a systematic review. Overall, the literature data suggest a link between PM and VTE, but further trials on larger populations of patients with homogeneous study designs and outcomes are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.affiliation: University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mengoli
authors.affiliation: Centre of Community Medicine and Infectious Diseases Service, ULSS 20 Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruciani
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonfanti
authors.affiliation: Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, IRCCS Cà Granda Foundation Maggiore Hospital, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: pm.mannucci@policlinico.mi.it.
authors.forename: Pier Mannuccio
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mannucci
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011634:Public Health; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
keywords: Air pollution; Deep vein thrombosis; PM; Particulate matter; Pulmonary embolism; Systematic review; Venous thromboembolism