136-82: Air quality risk factors of hospitalization of patients with atrial fibrillation living in the highly urbanized region of Poland

Abstract

Purpose of the study: There are some data suggesting that air pollutants and meteorological factors may trigger supraventicular arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation. It seems interesting if there is similar influence in population of highly urbanized and industrialized regions. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the impact of air quality risk factors on hospitalization of patients with atrial fibrillation living in the Silesia Agglomeration. Method used: The hospitalizations data were obtained from Silesian Cardiovascular Database for patients living in the Silesia Agglomeration between 2006 and 2014. A total number of hospitalizations with the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation was 20919. The values of meteorological factors and the results of the quantitative analysis of air at each day of the study period were obtained from the Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Katowice. Further analysis included concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitric monoxide (NO) and dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 mm (PM10) or less than 2.5 mm (PM2.5), values of temperature (T), humidity (H), wind speed (WS) and atmospheric pressure (AP). Mentioned parameters were compared with the number of hospitalization with the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. The relationship between the parameters was determined with a generalized linear model with logarithmic joining function, and assumed Poisson distribution for the dependent variable. Summary of results: There was significant relationship between the number of hospitalizations of patients with atrial fibrillation and values of NO, NO2, O3, WS as well as season other than summer (Table 1). No influence of SO2, PM10, PM2.5, T, H and AP was noticed. Conclusion: In the Silesian Aggolmeration there is considerable correlation of nitric oxides, ozone and wind speed with the frequency of hospitalizations of patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. However, there is a need to conduct more detailed research on this subject.