People with the heart disorder atrial fibrillation (AFib) who live in an area known to have higher levels of air pollution are at a much higher risk than their peers who live in an area with less pollution, according to a recent study.
At least 2.7 million Americans have AFib. The study showed that when they are exposed to greater levels of pollution, they have a 1.2-fold higher risk of stroke than their peers who live with less pollution. The study further emphasized the importance of air pollution alerts in advising the activities of people with certain heart conditions.
Researchers followed more than 31,000 people with AFib living in Allegheny County since 2007. The Pittsburgh region is ranked by the American Lung Association as one of the 10 most polluted in the U.S. Study subjects’ stroke risk steadily increased with higher daily exposure to air pollution, which was especially concerning since people with AFib already are at five times the risk of stroke.
The team also examined the impact of pollution on different demographic and socioeconomic groups and found that fine particulate exposure is 1.5-fold higher in Blacks compared to whites, and 1.3-fold higher in those living below poverty versus above.
Source: Newswise Sept. 16, 2020