Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Association of Air Pollution Exposure and Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
- prospective cohort study
- community-based
- 6 U.S. metropolitan areas
- time-varying exposures, 2-year rolling averages updated every 30 days
- hierarchical spatiotemporal models
+4 more
- community-based
- 6 U.S. metropolitan areas
- time-varying exposures, 2-year rolling averages updated every 30 days
- hierarchical spatiotemporal models
Authors' conclusion
We found evidence linking air pollution exposure to risk of incident AF. These results can be used to inform policy and other public health efforts aimed at alleviating the burden of AF, especially given that NO2 exposure estimates (median 17.3 ppb) fell well below the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency annual standard of 53 ppb.
Study context
- Population
- Participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a community-based cohort in 6 U.S. metropolitan areas (mean age 62; 53% female)participants included, 1055 atrial fibrillation (AF) events over 16.5 years median follow-up
- Participants
- 6,618 participants
- Exposure
- association of chronic air pollution exposure and risk of AF
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident AF · 16.5 years median follow-up
- Associations with PM2.5, NOx, and O3 were weaker but also directionally consistent with higher risk
- NO2, per interquartile range increment (13.5 ppb): 95% CI 1.00–1.67
- Primary model adjusted for demographics and health behaviors
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
AF events · 16.5 years median follow-up
- AF events identified
- 1055
Original publication
Association of Air Pollution Exposure and Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Heart Rhythm. Published 16 October 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it