Estimating the associations of apparent temperature and inflammatory, hemostatic, and lipid markers in a cohort of midlife women

Abstract

Associations between temperature and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality have been reported, but the underlying biological mechanisms remain uncertain. We explored the association between apparent temperature and serum biomarkers for CVD. Using linear mixed effects models, we examined the relationships between residence-proximate apparent temperature (same day and 1, 7, and 30 days prior) and several inflammatory, hemostatic, and lipid biomarkers for midlife women from 1999 through 2004. Our study population consisted of 2,306 women with mean age of 51 years (±3 years) enrolled in Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) in Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Los Angeles and Oakland, California; Newark, New Jersey; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mean daily apparent temperature was calculated using temperature and relative humidity data provided by the National Climatic Data Center and the US Environmental Protection Agency, while daily data for fine particles, ozone, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide from the US Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Data Mart were considered as confounders. All analyses were stratified by warm and cold seasons. More significant (p < 0.10) negative associations were found during the warm season for various lag times, including hs-CRP, fibrinogen, tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPA-ag), tissue plasminogen activator antigen (PAI-1), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and total cholesterol. During the cold season, significant negative associations for fibrinogen and HDL, but significant positive associations for tPA-ag, PAI-1, and triglycerides were observed for various lag times. Pollutants did not confound these associations. Apparent temperature was associated with several serum biomarkers of CVD risk in midlife women, shedding light on potential mechanisms.

Effect of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Colder Outdoor Temperatures on High-Density Lipoprotein Function

“…PM 2.5 also acutely shifted lipoproteins toward a more pro-atherogenic pattern. While both environmental factors are known to affect lipids 5,9–13,24,25 , this is the first report providing evidence that ambient levels of PM 2.5 and colder outdoor temperatures might each independently impair HDL function. Given the critical role that CEC plays in mitigating the atherosclerotic process 14,15 , our results elucidated a novel mechanistic linkage between PM 2.5 and heightened CV risk 1–5 .…”

Contribution of prenatal exposure to ambient temperature extremes and severe maternal morbidity: A retrospective Southern birth cohort

“…Cold ambient temperatures have been linked to poor birth outcomes in countries like Sweden (46), but have shown null results in US locations like California (47). One study demonstrated an increased risk for hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (i.e., eclampsia is one of the 21 disorders that comprise a SMM delivery) in the presence of exposure during the preconception period to very cold temperatures for pregnant women in China (22).…”

“…Our work parallels other studies highlighting Black compared to White mothers are more susceptible to high ambient temperatures, but prior studies have pointed to increased risk following heat exposure in the third trimester (2). Black women have higher rates of preterm hospitalization after hot temperature exposure in their first and third trimesters in Arizona, Washington, and New York (58) or higher preterm birth among Black birthing populations in the third trimester in Northern California (47). Black women may be more exposed to extreme heat due to their resident locations in areas with less tree canopy and limited access to mitigating measures (e.g., air conditioning) (59).…”

Book Review ‘Physiotherapy Education: Academic Dialogues at the Universidad del Rosario, 1996-2016’ (Spanish Version)

“…Royé et al [1,2] indicated that apparent temperature [3] has a strong non-linear relationship with Ischemic Stroke and cardiovascular health. Associations between temperature and cardiovascular mortality have been reported by Basu et al [4], while Alessandrini et al [5] showed a strong relationship between biometeorological conditions and ambulance dispatches in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Alessandrini et al [5] found that ambulance dispatches increase 1.45% (non-traumatic diseases) and 2.74% (respiratory diseases) for every 1°C increase in the mean apparent temperature between 25° and 30°C.…”