Impact of Short-Term Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Ozone (O3) on Hospital Admissions for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract

In the context of recent climate change, global warming, industrial growth, and population expansion, air pollution has emerged as a significant environmental and human health risk. This study employed a multivariable Poisson regression analysis to examine the association between short-term exposure to atmospheric pollutants (nitrogen dioxide—NO2, sulfur dioxide -SO2, ozone—O3, and particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 μm-PM10) and hospital admissions for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Daily data on NSTE-ACS admissions, air pollutants, and meteorological variables were collected from January 2019 to December 2021. Elevated NO2 concentrations were associated with a higher risk of NSTE-ACS hospitalization, notably in spring (OR: 1.426; 95% CI: 1.196–1.701). Hypertensive individuals (OR: 1.101; 95% CI: 1.007–1.204) and those diagnosed with unstable angina (OR: 1.107; 95%CI: 1.010–1.213) exhibited heightened susceptibility to elevated NO2 concentrations. A 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 during spring at lag 07 (OR: 1.013; 95% CI: 1.001–1.025) and O3 in winter at lag 05 (OR: 1.007; 95% CI: 1.001–1.014) was correlated with an elevated daily occurrence of NSTE-ACS admissions. Short-term exposure to various air pollutants posed an increased risk of NSTE-ACS hospitalization, with heightened sensitivity observed in hypertensive patients and those with unstable angina. Addressing emerging environmental risk factors is crucial to mitigate substantial impacts on human health and the environment.