Article
Long-term Air Pollution and Incidence of the Metabolic Syndrome in the Population-Based Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study
Search Medline for
Authors
Published: | August 29, 2017 |
---|
Outline
Text
Introduction: In the last few decades, air pollution has been intensively investigated and has been shown to have a wide range of acute and chronic health impacts. Most epidemiological studies have found an association between air pollution and cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. Recently, further epidemiological studies have found a possible link between air pollution and components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), such as obesity and impaired fasting glucose. However, very few studies have explored a possible association between air pollution and MetS.
Objective: We analysed the effects of long-term exposure to different air pollutants on 5-year cumulative incidence of MetS.
Methods: Data from participants of the population-based prospective Heinz Nixdorf Recall study without MetS at baseline (2000-2003) were used in this study (N=3086). Mean annual exposure for size-fractioned particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was assessed with a land use regression model. MetS at baseline and at the 5-year follow-up examination was defined according to the criteria from the International Diabetes Federation, which includes central obesity plus two out of four additional risk factors (i.e., raised triglycerides, reduced HDL cholesterol, raised blood pressure or raised fasting plasma glucose). We used Poisson regression to estimate the relative risk (RR) of developing MetS, adjusting for sex, age, individual risk factors (smoking status, pack-years, environmental tobacco smoke, nutrition, physical activity), as well as individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic status (SES). RRs (95%-confidence interval) were presented per interquartile range increase in exposure. In a two-exposure model, we investigated combined effects of air pollution and road traffic noise.
Results: 299 participants developed MetS during a mean follow-up of 5 years. Mean air pollution exposure at baseline examination was 18.4 μg/m3 for PM2.5, 27.7 μg/m3 for PM10, and 30.0 μg/m3 for NO2. All air pollutants were borderline positively associated with MetS. For example, adjusted RRs per IQR for PM10 and PM2.5 were 1.13 (95%-CI: 0.98-1.30) and 1.17 (95%-CI: 0.97-1.41), respectively. For NO2, the RR was slightly lower than the PM estimates, with 1.03 (95%-CI 0.90-1.17). In the two-exposure models with both PM and noise, RRs per IQR for PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 increased slightly to 1.15 (95%-CI: 1.00-1.32) ,1.20 (95%-CI: 0.99-1.45), and 1.05 (95%-CI 0.91-1.21), respectively.
Conclusion: Long-term exposure to air pollution might increase the risk of developing MetS in the general population, with strongest effects seen for PM10 and PM2.5. This association remained when adjusting for long-term traffic noise exposure.
Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.
Die Autoren geben an, dass ein positives Ethikvotum vorliegt.