Air pollution linked to more heart attacks

A team of researchers from the Spanish Cardiology Society (SEC) and the Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC) He has discovered that exposure to air pollution is related to the increase in the number of heart attacks, as well as an increase in mortality from this cause.

The study, published in the Spanish Cardiology Magazinehas shown how The risk of death increases 14 percent after entering the hospital for a heart attackall this after analyzing data of air pollution, temperature and humidity obtained from the databases of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and of the Information on Hospital Revenue due to acute myocardial infarction and on hospital mortality of the minimum basic data set (CMBD), assigned by the Ministry of Health.

More pollution, more infarcts

“Our results emphasize that concentrations of PM2.5 higher than 10 micrograms per cubic meter in the three days prior to admission are associated with a significant increase in hospital admissions due to acute myocardial infarction. This is 22 more infarcts for every 1,000 income, “said the specialist in Cardiology and Researcher Raquel Campuzano, first signatory of the study together with Julio Núñez Villota.

After that, he explained that concentrations greater than 25 micrograms per cubic meter are associated with an increased risk of death during infarction admission, some findings that can contribute to implement prevention strategies and more effective public policies against air pollution.

This phenomenon is a risk factor “Emerging and significant” For cardiovascular diseases, and that is that the particles of matter in suspension in the air (PM2.5 and PM10) are polluting products with high environmental impact that, the lower its size, the more harmful health can result.

“We know that these particles can cause inflammation in the body, alter the functioning of blood vessels and increase the risk of clots. These effects are directly related to the advancement of atherosclerosis (the hardening and narrowing of the arteries) and the rupture of the plates that are formed in them, which can trigger serious events such as a heart attack, “said the researcher Jordi Bañerasanother of the study authors.

A pioneer study in Spain

The researchers They have stressed that it is the first time this data is analyzed in an entire country, And they have associated with 122 hospitals of the National Health System (SNS) with stations of environmental measurements located within a radius of 10 kilometers by geographical coordinates, and included 115,071 patients over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction between 2016 and 2021.

The study has also had a Research Scholarship not conditioned by Sanitas and with the technical and methodological support of the Institute for the Improvement of Health Assistance (IMAS Foundation).

Environmental pollution is gaining more and more attention in the field of cardiology due to the increasing evidence of its link with cardiovascular diseases, which is why the next European Congress of Cardiology, which will take place in Madrid between August 29 and September 1will include up to 16 sessions or presentations about it.