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Air pollution increases risk for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
A daily average increase in air pollution and ozone is directly correlated with an increased risk for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by 4.6%, according to research published in Circulation.
Based on a massive data set unique to Houston, ranked eighth in the United States for high-ozone days, researchers at Rice University found that an increase in particulate matter of 6 µg/m3 per day over 2 days increased the risk for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) by 4.6% (1.046; 95% CI, 1.012-1.082). Those most vulnerable had pre-existing health conditions (not necessarily cardiac-related), men, African Americans and individuals over age 65 years.
Katherine B. Ensor
Katherine B. Ensor, PhD, professor and chair in the department of statistics at Rice University, Houston, TX, and colleagues analyzed 8 years' worth of data from air quality monitors and more than 11,000 concurrent OHCAs logged by Houston Emergency Medical Services between 2004 and 2011. In addition researchers reported that a 20 parts per billion ozone increase for an 8-hour daily maximum led to an increased risk for OHCA that day (1.039; 95% CI, 1.005-1.073). For every 20 parts per billion ozone increase in the previous 1 to 3 hours, there was an increased risk for OHCA, with a peak of 4.4%. Researchers reported that patients died in more than 90% of the cases, which occurred more often during the summer months (55% of total cases), according to a press release.
"The bottom-line goal is to save lives," Ensor said in a press release. "We'd like to contribute to a refined warning system for at-risk individuals. Blanket warnings about air quality may not be good enough."
For more information:
Ensor KB. Circulation. 2013. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.000027.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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This study further emphasizes the potentially lethal effects of air pollution in a susceptible population. Further efforts should be directed at improving air quality and in educating individuals at risk about the dangers of spending time outside when air quality is particularly poor.
Surprisingly, the death rate was higher in the 35-64 age group vs. the older groups. A possible explanation is that younger individuals likely spent more time outside than the older groups.
Going forward, better education about air pollution effects and improved understanding of who is at risk and how they can protect themselves when air quality is poor is needed.