title: Fine particulate air pollution and premature ventricular contractions: The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study.
abstract: It is unknown if higher levels of ambient particulate matter (PM) exposure increase the risk for premature ventricular contractions (PVC) in a population-based study of men and women, and if this relationship varies by race or sex.
  
  
  
  We examined the association of PM <2.5µm in diameter (PM2.5) concentration with PVCs in 26,121 (mean age=64±9.3 years; 55% female; 41% black) participants from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Estimates of short- (2-week) and long-term (1-year) PM2.5exposures were computed prior to the baseline visit using geographic information system data on the individual level at the coordinates of study participants' residences. PVCs were identified from baseline electrocardiograms.
  
  
  
  PVCs were detected in 1719 (6.6%) study participants. Short- (OR=1.08, 95%CI=1.03, 1.14) and long- (OR=1.06, 95%CI=1.01, 1.12) term PM2.5exposures were associated with PVCs. Interactions were not detected by race or sex. An interaction between short-term PM2.5exposure and PVCs was detected for those with cardiovascular disease (OR=1.16, 95%CI=1.06, 1.27) compared with those without cardiovascular disease (OR=1.05, 95%CI=0.99, 1.12; p-interaction=0.027).
  
  
  
  Our findings suggest that PM2.5exposure is associated with an increased risk for PVCs in a biracial population-based study of men and women. We also have identified persons with cardiovascular disease as an at-risk population for PVCs when increases in short-term PM2.5concentration occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: wesley.oneal@emory.edu.
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, NC, USA; Epidemiological Cardiology Research Center (EPICARE), Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 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, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jimmy T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Efird
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 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, AL, 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, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McClure
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Epidemiology; Particulate matter; Ventricular ectopy