Controlled exposures to air pollutants and risk of cardiac arrhythmia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epidemiological studies have reported associations between air pollution exposure and increases in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Exposure to air pollutants can influence cardiac autonomic tone and reduce heart rate variability, and may increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias, particularly in susceptible patient groups.

Objectives

We investigated the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias during and after controlled exposure to air pollutants in healthy volunteers and patients with coronary heart disease.

Methods

We analyzed data from 13 double-blind randomized crossover studies including 282 participants (140 healthy volunteers and 142 patients with stable coronary heart disease) from whom continuous electrocardiograms were available. The incidence of

SUBMITTER: Langrish JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4080532 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature