Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesResearch article
Association between particulate matter air pollution and subclinical myocardial fibrosis in structurally normal hearts: a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-based study
- CMR-based study
Authors' conclusion
In individuals with structurally normal hearts, chronic exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with higher synthetic-ECV values, suggesting early diffuse myocardial fibrosis related to air pollution.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with structurally normal hearts and no late-gadolinium-enhancement on CMR from May 2020 to November 202445 ± 21 years, 53% males
- Participants
- Two-hundred-thirty-one patients
- Comparison
- Associations between particulate matter (PM) and CMR parameters
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Synthetic-ECV
- PM2.5
- β 0.034% (95% CI 0.005–0.063); P & 0.023
- PM10
- β 0.021 per 1 µg/m3 (95% CI 0.009–0.032); P & 0.001
Further findings
| Outcome | β (ms per 1 µg/m3) (95% CI) | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Native T1 · higher native T1; only PM2.5 | 0.317 (0.07–0.564) | P & 0.012 |
Other CMR parameters, including T2 mapping
- No associations were observed
Increased native T1 and synthetic-ECV (logistic regression)
- PM2.5, but not PM10, was associated with increased native T1 and synthetic-ECV
Subgroups and mediation
- Association most pronounced in males and patients ≥50 years
- No mediation effect of inflammatory markers
Exposure
- Mean annual PM2.5 exposure
- 28.6 ± 14.8 µg/m3
- Mean annual PM10 exposure
- 56.0 ± 35.3 µg/m3
Original publication
Association between particulate matter air pollution and subclinical myocardial fibrosis in structurally normal hearts: a CMR-based study. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 17 March 2026. doi:10.1093/ehjci/jeag075
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it