An epidemiological appraisal of the association between heart rate variability and particulate air pollution: a meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveStudies on the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and heart rate variability (HRV) suggest that particulate matter (PM) exposure is associated with reductions in measures of HRV, but there is heterogeneity in the nature and magnitude of this association between studies. The authors performed a meta-analysis to determine how consistent this association is.Data sourceThe authors searched the Pubmed citation database and Web of Knowledge to identify studies on HRV and PM.Study selectionOf the epidemiologic studies reviewed, 29 provided sufficient details to be considered. The meta-analysis included 18667 subjects recruited from the population in surveys, studies from patient groups, and from occupationally exposed groups.Data extractionTwo investigators read all papers and computerised all relevant information.ResultsThe authors computed pooled estimates from a random-effects model. In the combined studies, an increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM2.5 was associated with significant reductions in the time-domain measurements, including low frequency (−1.66%, 95% CI −2.58% to −0.74%) and high frequency (−2.44%, 95% CI −3.76% to −1.12%) and in frequency-domain measurements, for SDNN (−0.12%, 95% CI −0.22% to −0.03%) and for rMSSD (−2.18%, 95% CI −3.33% to −1.03%). Funnel plots suggested that no publication bias was present and a sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of our combined estimates.ConclusionThe meta-analysis supports an inverse relationship between HRV, a marker for a worse cardiovascular prognosis, and particulate air pollution.

Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Emergency Department Visits Associated With Wildfire Smoke Exposure in California in 2015

“…Dysrhythmia, likely precipitated by immediate changes in the balance of the autonomic nervous system, first appeared at lag 0 36. Myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease appeared second at lag 1.…”

Impact of traffic-related air pollution on acute changes in cardiac autonomic modulation during rest and physical activity: a cross-over study

“…28 3 All models are adjusted for body mass index, ambient temperature, noise, and linear and quadratic terms for heart rate. P-values are for first order interaction terms between traffic site and a given air pollutant.…”

“…Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is thought to contribute to cardiovascular morbidity/mortality in part through acute changes in cardiac autonomic modulation (1)(2)(3).…”

The effects on health of ambient particles: time for an agonizing reappraisal?

“…Changes in heart rate variability have been studied. A link between such changes and pulmonary inflammation has been suggested (McQueen et al 2007, Pieters et al 2012, Mills et al 2010Schneider et al 2010;Robertson et al 2014;Chuang et al 2007;Rhoden et al 2005).…”