Sex-specific associations between physical activity and cardiovascular disease under air pollution among the middle-aged and elderly population: A nationwide cross-sectional study in China.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but its role in mitigating or exacerbating this risk under exposure to air pollution remains unclear. This study investigates the associations between MVPA and CVD in the context of air pollution among both sexes.

Methods

This nationwide, cross-sectional study included 17,138 middle-aged and elderly people from the 2018 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data on air pollutants, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and air quality index, were obtained from the China High Air Pollutants dataset and th

SUBMITTER: Xie H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12681717 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature