Abstract 9844: Particulate Matter 2.5, Metropolitan Status, and Heart Failure Outcomes in US Counties: A Nationwide Ecologic Analysis

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2022-11, Vol.146 (Suppl_1), p.A9844-A9844
• Main Authors: Chen, Edward W, Ahmad, Khansa, ERQOU, SEBHAT, Wu, Wen-Chih H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/circ.146.suppl_1.9844

Epidemiological data on the relationship of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5) with heart failure (HF) hospitalizations and mortality in the US are limited. Prior studies have focused on the effects of daily PM2.5 exposure and HF hospitalizations in specific geographic locales in the US. Since PM2.5 varies by geography, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between annual ambient PM2.5 concentration levels and HF hospitalizations and death at a county level across the US. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of county level HF hospitalizations, mortality, and ambient PM2.5 concentration levels across 3135 US counties nationwide with adjustments for county-level demographics, socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, and healthcare-associated behaviors. County PM2.5 showed a moderate correlation with HF hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries (r=0.41) and a weak correlation with the overall county HF mortality (r=0.08) (p-values < 0.01). There was an increase of 0.51 HF Hospitalizations/1,000 Medicare Beneficiaries and 0.74 HF deaths/100,000 residents for every 1 ug/m3 increase in annual PM2.5 concentration after adjustment for various county level covariates. The relationship between PM2.5 concentration levels and both HF hospitalization and mortality remained significant after adjustment for county covariates. Additionally, the association between PM2.5and HF hospitalizations was comparable by metropolitan status of the counties. In conclusion, ambient PM2.5 concentration level was associated with higher incidence of HF hospitalizations and deaths at the county level across the 3100 US counties. Future studies to examine policies aimed at reducing ambient particulate matter pollution and downstream effect of improving HF outcomes are warranted.