Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyResearch article
Air quality and the risk of acute atrial fibrillation (EP-PARTICLES study): a nationwide study in Poland
- Nationwide time-series study
- generalized additive models with Poisson regression
- GEM-AQ modelled exposure
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
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:10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf016
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it