Short-term association between ambient air pollution and heart rate variability: results from the population-based KORA S4 and FF4 studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ambient air pollution is a major risk factor for CVDs, and a plausible mechanism is speculated to be alteration of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. Yet, the short-term effects of air pollution on heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of ANS balance are inconsistent.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of ambient PM_2.5 and NO₂ on cardiovascular autonomic function, and to determine vulnerable subgroups and temporal trends from repeated HRV and HR measurements over 14 years in the KORA cohort.

Methods

We analyzed data from 4,032 participants in KORA S4 (1999-2001) and 1,912 in KORA FF4 (2013-2014). Air pollution data were from fixed monitoring stations, and HRV indices were derived from 5-minute ECG rec

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12534996 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature