Air pollution and heart rate variability among the elderly in Mexico City

Epidemiology. 2003 Sep;14(5):521-7. doi: 10.1097/01.ede.0000081999.15060.ae.

Abstract

Background: Suspended particles and ozone have been associated with varying degrees of cardiac autonomic dysfunction.

Methods: In Mexico City, residents from a nursing home underwent heart rate variability analysis every other day for 3 months. Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 mm in diameter) were measured daily at the nursing home. Levels of ozone and other atmospheric pollutants were obtained from a nearby automated monitoring station.

Results: Of the initial 42 screened participants, 34 (81%) were followed during the study period. The 24-hour average levels of indoor PM2.5 ranged from 15 to 67 micro g/m3, and outdoor PM2.5 ranged from 9 to 87 micro g/m3. Daily 1-hour maximum ozone levels ranged from 47 to 228 ppb. After adjusting for age and heart rate, we observed a strong decrease in the high frequency component of heart rate variability and the average 24-hour concentrations of PM2.5. Participants with hypertension had considerably larger reductions in their HF-HRV (high frequency-heart rate variability) component in relation to both ozone and PM2.5 exposure.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that ambient levels of PM2.5 and ozone can reduce the high-frequency component of heart rate variability in elderly subjects living in Mexico City and that subjects with underlying hypertension are particularly susceptible to this effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Air Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Carbon Monoxide / analysis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology*
  • Female
  • Heart Rate*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis
  • Nursing Homes
  • Ozone / analysis
  • Particle Size
  • Sulfur Dioxide / analysis

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Sulfur Dioxide
  • Ozone
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Nitrogen Dioxide