title: Fine particulate air pollution and premature atrial contractions: The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study.
abstract: Several reports have suggested that particulate matter (PM) exposure increases the risk for atrial arrhythmias. However, data from large-scale epidemiologic studies supporting this hypothesis are lacking. We examined the association of PM <2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) concentration with premature atrial contractions (PACs) in 26,609 (mean age=65±9.4 years; 55% female; 41% black) participants from the REGARDS (REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) study. Estimates of short- (2 weeks) and long-term (1 year) PM2.5exposure were computed before each participant's baseline visit using geographic information system data on the individual level at the coordinates of study participants' residences. PACs were identified from baseline electrocardiograms. A total of 2140 (8.2%) participants had evidence of PACs on the baseline electrocardiogram. Short-term PM2.5(per 10 μg/m3) exposure was not associated with PACs (OR=1.09, 95% CI=0.98, 1.23). Increases in long-term PM2.5(per 10 μg/m3) were associated with PACs (OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.10, 1.78). Interactions were not detected for short- and long-term PM2.5exposure by age, sex, or race. Long- but not short-term PM2.5exposure is associated with PACs. This suggests a role for long-term PM2.5exposure in initiating supraventricular arrhythmias that are triggered by PACs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Wesley T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: O'Neal
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section on Cardiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.|Epidemiological Cardiology Research Center (EPICARE), Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Elsayed Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, East Carolina Heart Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Jimmy T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Efird
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Judd
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Virginia J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McClure
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D018880:Atrial Premature Complexes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter