Low-Level Airborne Particulate Matter and Risk of Hypertension Hospitalization in Older U.S. Adults
Authors' conclusion
These findings suggest that even PM2.5 exposures below current regulatory thresholds in the United States may contribute to increased hypertension risk
Study context
- Population
- Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years in ZIP codes with annual PM2.5 consistently below 9 μg/m³, contiguous US, 2017–2022more than 26 million
- Exposure
- Per 1-μg/m³ increase in annual PM2.5 below 9 μg/m³
- Outcome
- Hypertension-related hospitalization per 1-μg/m³ increase in annual PM2.5
Methodological detailsnational cohort, double-negative control approach, causal inference approach
- National cohort
- Double-negative control approach
- Causal inference approach
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Increase in hypertension-related hospitalization per 1-μg/m³ increase in PM2.5
2.8%
95% CI 2.5–3.2
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Conventional quasi-Poisson regression models
- Comparable with main estimate
Effect modification by subgroups
- Greater vulnerability among women, residents of the Midwest and Northeast, rural or suburban residents, and more socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Low-Level Airborne Particulate Matter and Risk of Hypertension Hospitalization in Older U.S. Adults. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 15 April 2026. doi:10.
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