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Correlation between Concentration of Air Pollutants and Occurrence of Cardiac Arrhythmias in a Region with Humid Continental Climate

In this study, we investigated the correlation of air temperature, pressure and concentration of air pollutants with the rate of admissions for cardiac arrhythmias at two clinical centers in the area with a humid continental climate. Th is retrospective study included 3749 patients with arrhythmias admitted to emergency department (ED). Th ey were classifi ed into four groups: supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), ventricular tachycardia (VT), atrial fi brillation/undulation (Afi b/Aund), and palpitations (with no ECG changes, or with sinus tachycardia and extrasystoles). The number of patients, values of meteorological parameters (average daily values of air temperature, pressure and relative humidity) and concentrations of air pollutants (particles of dimensions ~10micrometers or less (PM10), ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) were collected during a two-year period ( July 2008- June 2010). Th ere were 1650 (44.0%), 1525 (40.7%), 451 (12.0%) and 123 (3.3%)patients with palpitations, Afi b/Aund, SVT and VT, respectively. Spearman’s correlation yielded positive correlation between the occurrence of arrhythmias and air humidity on the day (r=0.07), and 1 (r=0.08), 2 (r=0.09) and 3 days before (r=0.09), and NO2 particles on the day (r=0.08) of ED admission ; palpitations and air humidity on the day (r=0.11), and 1 (r=0.09), 2 (r=0.07) and 3 days before (r=0.10), and PM10 (r=0.11) and NO2 (r=0.08) particles on the day of ED admission ; and Afi b/Aund and air humidity 2 days before (r=0.08) ED admission (p<0.05 all). In conclusion, there was a very weak positive correlation of the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias with air humidity and concentration of air pollutants in the region with a humid continental climate.

Air pollution – adverse eff ects ; Arrhythmias, cardiac ; Climate – adverse eff ects ; Emergency service, hospital

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