Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and the risk of ventricular arrhythmias: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank
Authors' conclusion
Long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of VAs, especially in individuals with a high genetic risk.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants without ventricular arrhythmias at baseline
- Participants
- 491,305 participants · 4,333 incident ventricular arrhythmias (VAs)
- Exposure
- Long-term air pollutant exposure and genetic risk vs lower exposure
- Outcome
- Incident ventricular arrhythmias (VAs)
- Follow-up
- Median 14.3 years
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident VAs, HR per quintile increase in pollutant
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
PM2.5 (per quintile increase)
1.07(1.03–1.11)
PM10 (per quintile increase)
1.07(1.03–1.11)
NO2 (per quintile increase)
1.10(1.06–1.14)
NOx (per quintile increase)
1.08(1.05–1.12)
Per quintile increase, as printed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Incident VAs, high genetic risk and high air pollution exposure (joint effect)
| Comparison | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| High genetic risk + high PM2.5 | 4.51 (3.66–5.56) | |
| High genetic risk + high PM10 | 4.28 (3.52–5.22) | |
| High genetic risk + high NO2 | 4.90 (3.97–6.03) | |
| High genetic risk + high NOx | 4.56 (3.72–5.60) | |
| 0.10.31310Hazard ratio (log scale) |
- Significant additive interactions between air pollutants and genetic risk
Original publication
Air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and the risk of ventricular arrhythmias: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 7 December 2024. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it