Comparison of heart rate variability and cardiac arrhythmias in polluted and clean air episodes in healthy individuals

Abstract

Objective Pathophysiological mechanisms and pathways linking cardiovascular mortality and morbidity with air pollution were recently hypothesized. The present study evaluated association between air pollution and changes in heart rate variability as a marker of cardiac autonomic function in healthy individuals, and also determined the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias and QT interval changes on polluted compared to unpolluted days. Methods Continuous Holter electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring was conducted on 21 young healthy individuals in the two episodes of clean air and elevated air pollution in Tehran. All subjects underwent a medical history review, a physical examination and echocardiography in order to rule out structural heart diseases. Measured pollutants and parameters included NO 2 , CO 2 , O 3 , SO 2 , and PM10, which all showed significantly higher concentrations on polluted days. Holter parameters were measured for 24-h time segments and compared. Results Maximum heart rate was significantly lower in polluted air conditions in comparison with clean air conditions (115.1 ± 32.2 vs. 128.9 ± 17.7), and the square root of the mean of squared differences between adjacent NN intervals (r-MSSD) was higher in polluted air compared to clean air (99.0 ± 58.2 vs. 58.5 ± 26.4). Also, the occurrence of nonsustained supraventricular tachycardia was reported in 42.9% of participants in air pollution episodes, whereas this arrhythmia was not seen in clear air conditions (p = 0.001).Conclusion Changes in air pollution indices may lead to the occurrence of nonsustained supraventricular tachycardia, a slight reduction in maximum heart rate, and an increase in r-MSSD in healthy individuals. Air quality monitoring in cities associated with a high exposure to air pollutants is recommended in order to prevent such events.

TRPA1 mediates changes in heart rate variability and cardiac mechanical function in mice exposed to acrolein

“…Indeed, other reports note increased HRV as an indicator of heightened risk. For example, increased RMSSD has been shown to be associated with elevated risk of air pollution-induced arrhythmia (Davoodi et al, 2010) and increases in HRV have been demonstrated preceding post-operative atrial fibrillation (Amar et al, 2003). Additionally, increases in vagal tone have been associated with adverse cardiovascular events in type II diabetics (Eguchi et al, 2010), and linked with increased mortality in heart failure patients and the elderly (de Bruyne et al, 1999; Stein et al, 2005).…”

Outdoor particulate matter (PM) and associated cardiovascular diseases in the Middle East

“…). The occurrence of non-sustained supraventricular tachycardia, as a marker of cardiac dysfunction, was recorded in almost 43% of the participants during the polluted air conditions, whereas this arrhythmia was not reported during the non-polluted conditions (p = 0.001) [65]. A major aspect in the development of early-life atherosclerosis is the relationship of air pollution with endothelial dysfunction and pro-coagulation effect.…”

“…Controlling or reducing anthropogenic sources of the outdoor air pollution would help clean the air we breathe, as well as minimize its health burden in the whole population. 120.48 [66] vehicle emissions, temperature inversion in cold seasons [60] potential impact of PM on platelet activation and atherosclerosis [64] changes in the heart rate variability as a marker of cardiac autonomic dysfunction in the polluted air conditions [65] on average, 1 367 extra total deaths and 2 580 extra cases admitted to hospitals due to CVD annually were attributable to an increase by 10 μg/m 1072-80.…”

“…In the same year, Davoodi et al [65] examined the association between changes in the heart rate variability and exposure to air pollution in Tehran. During air pollution episodes, the maximum heart rate was significantly lower as compared to the clear air conditions [68].…”

A cross-disciplinary evaluation of evidence for multipollutant effects on cardiovascular disease

“…In whole atmosphere studies, cardiovascular effects were not clearly associated with air pollution mixture exposures to high and low traffic environments for adults with regard to heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose parameters (Kubesch et al, 2014;Larsson et al, 2007;Laumbach et al, 2010). Similarly, cardiovascular effects were not associated with air pollution mixtures examined as high and low air pollution days in Atlanta GA (Peel et al, 2010), or Tehran, Iran (Davoodi et al, 2010). Some of the inconsistency observed in whole atmosphere studies could be due to the differences in pollutant composition (mainly O 3 and CO versus mainly PM and NO 2 ).…”