Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Air quality and the risk of acute atrial fibrillation (EP-PARTICLES study): a nationwide study in Poland
Authors' conclusion
Air pollution acts as a triggering factor and can be associated with acute AF hospitalizations. PM2.5 and NO2 have an impact on AF even at concentrations levels below WHO air quality guideline norms.
Study context
- Population
- Acute atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalizations in Poland, 2011–20 (National Health Fund)
- Participants
- 252,566 acute AF admissions
- Comparison
- Short-term air pollution exposure and acute AF admissions
- Outcome
- Acute AF admissions
- Follow-up
- Day of exposure
Methodological detailsgeneralized additive models with Poisson regression, GEM-AQ modelled exposure
- Generalized additive models with Poisson regression
- GEM-AQ modelled exposure
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Increase in acute AF admissions per pollutant increment
PM2.5, per 10 µg/m³
1.13%
0.70–1.55%
NO2, per 10 µg/m³
1.65%
1.05–2.26%
Sulfur dioxide, per 1 µg/m³
0.11%
0.01–0.21%
BaP, per 10 ng/m³
0.3%
0.04–0.55%
Further findings
Subgroups
- NO2 in high-GDP areas: increase in AF admissions
- 0.2% (1.001-1.003)
- Estimates larger for women and older people
- Stronger PM2.5 and BaP associations in poorly urbanized areas
Exposure-response functions
- Steeper slopes at lower exposures, far below World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline norms
Avoidable AF admissions, zero-emission scenario
- PM2.5
- 5873 (95% CI 3679 to 8047)
- NO2 (2108-4477)
- 3295
Original publication
Air quality and the risk of acute atrial fibrillation (EP-PARTICLES study): a nationwide study in Poland. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 15 January 2025. doi:10.
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