A Case-Crossover Study between Fine Particulate Matter Elemental Composition and Emergency Admission with Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: It is generally understood that Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) can cause high blood pressure. However, it remains unclear whether there is a relationship between the elemental composition of PM2.5 and cardiovascular disease in emergency department patients.

METHODS: Crossover design for time stratified cases and conditional logistic regression were used to analyze the correlation between emergency admissions for cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, TIA (Transient ischemic attack), coronary heart disease and PM2.5, concentrations of chemical element compositions, and Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) in Changsha city.

RESULTS: When the temperature, atmosphere pressure, maximum wind speed, NO2 and SO2 were adjusted, the OR (Odd Ratio) of cerebral hemorrhage was 1.177 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.006-1.376, p = 0.04] with every10 μg/m(3) increase of PM2.5. PM10 was unrelated to cardiovascular emergencies (p > 0.05). In addition, with each additional IQR (Interquartile Range) increase of Ni, Zn and Pb concentrations in PM2.5, the values of OR were 1.826 (95% CI: 1.031-3.233), 1.568 (95% CI: 1.015-2.423) and 1.682 (95% CI: 1.010-2.800), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Concentration rises of nickel, zinc and lead elements for PM2.5 in Changsha city were related to the increase of emergency admissions with cerebral hemorrhage.