Impact of Long-Term Cumulative Exposure to Wildfire Smoke PM2.5 on Cardiovascular Hospital Admissions Among Older Adults in the United States: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
Long-term cumulative wildfire smoke PM2.5 exposure is associated with elevated CVD hospitalization risk, varying by exposure levels and individual characteristics.
Study context
- Population
- US Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years, contiguous US, 2017–2022
- Participants
- 65.2 million beneficiaries
- Exposure
- Moderate exposure vs Below 1st percentile
- Outcome
- First cardiovascular disease (CVD) hospitalization
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
CVD hospitalizations by 3-year average wildfire smoke PM2.5
Moderate exposure vs Below 1st percentileRelative risk (95% CI)
Overall CVD
1.04(1.03–1.05)
Ischemic heart disease
1.07(1.06–1.09)
Arrhythmias
1.06(1.04–1.07)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Effect modification by sociodemographic factors
- Beneficiaries of lower socioeconomic status potentially more vulnerable
Original publication
Impact of Long-Term Cumulative Exposure to Wildfire Smoke PM2.5 on Cardiovascular Hospital Admissions Among Older Adults in the United States: A Population-Based Cohort Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 18 February 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it