nitrogen-dioxide and Tachycardia--Ventricular

In this study, we investigated the correlation of air temperature, pressure and concentration\ of air pollutants with the rate of admissions for cardiac arrhythmias at two clinical centers\ in the area with a humid continental climate. This retrospective study included 3749 patients with\ arrhythmias admitted to emergency department (ED). They were classified into four groups: supraventricular\ tachycardia (SVT), ventricular tachycardia (VT), atrial fibrillation/undulation (Afib/Aund),\ and palpitations (with no ECG changes, or with sinus tachycardia and extrasystoles). The\ number of patients, values of meteorological parameters (average daily values of air temperature,\ pressure and relative humidity) and concentrations of air pollutants (particles of dimensions ~10\ micrometers or less (PM(10)), ozone (O(3)) and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2))) were collected during a two-year\ period ( July 2008-June 2010). There were 1650 (44.0%), 1525 (40.7%), 451 (12.0%) and 123 (3.3%)\ patients with palpitations, Afib/Aund, SVT and VT, respectively. Spearman’s correlation yielded\ positive correlation between the occurrence of arrhythmias and air humidity on the day (r=0.07), and\ 1 (r=0.08), 2 (r=0.09) and 3 days before (r=0.09), and NO(2) particles on the day (r=0.08) of ED admission;\ palpitations and air humidity on the day (r=0.11), and 1 (r=0.09), 2 (r=0.07) and 3 days before\ (r=0.10), and PM(10) (r=0.11) and NO(2) (r=0.08) particles on the day of ED admission; and Afi b/Aund\ and air humidity 2 days before (r=0.08) ED admission (p<0.05 all). In conclusion, there was a very\ weak positive correlation of the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias with air humidity and concentration\ of air pollutants in the region with a humid continental climate.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Air Pressure; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Atrial Fibrillation; Climate; Croatia; Emergency Service, Hospital; Environmental Exposure; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Humidity; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Retrospective Studies; Tachycardia, Supraventricular; Tachycardia, Ventricular; Temperature; Young Adult

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a consistent link between sudden cardiac deaths and particulate air pollution. We used implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) records of ventricular tachyarrhythmias to assess the role of air pollution as a trigger of these potentially life-threatening events. The study cohort consisted of 203 cardiac patients with ICD devices in the Boston metropolitan area who were followed for an average of 3.1 years between 1995 and 2002. Fine particle mass and gaseous air pollution plus temperature and relative humidity were measured on almost all days, and black carbon, sulfate, and particle number on a subset of days. Date, time, and intracardiac electrograms of ICD-detected arrhythmias were downloaded at the patients' regular follow-up visits (about every 3 months). Ventricular tachyarrhythmias were identified by electrophysiologist review. Risk of ventricular arrhythmias associated with air pollution was estimated with logistic regression, adjusting for season, temperature, relative humidity, day of the week, patient, and a recent prior arrhythmia. We found increased risks of ventricular arrhythmias associated with 2-day mean exposure for all air pollutants considered, although these associations were not statistically significant. We found statistically significant associations between air pollution and ventricular arrhythmias for episodes within 3 days of a previous arrhythmia. The associations of ventricular tachyarrhythmias with fine particle mass, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and black carbon suggest a link with motor vehicle pollutants. The associations with sulfate suggest a link with stationary fossil fuel combustion sources.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Carbon; Carbon Monoxide; Defibrillators, Implantable; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Particle Size; Sulfates; Sulfur Dioxide; Tachycardia, Ventricular