Work in brief

AIR POLLUTION AND VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS

Episodes of particulate air pollution have been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, while a number of studies indicate short term changes in heart rate variability and a liability to ventricular arrhythmias. Rich et al1 have assessed the last of these effects among a cohort of patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators. These devices, which are designed to detect and treat life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, offer a research opportunity to monitor heart rhythm during pollution episodes. A case-crossover design was used to compare periods in which ventricular arrhythmias occurred with control periods matched on week day, hour of day, and calendar month, with adjustment for various …