Effects of short-term exposure to gaseous pollutants on metabolic health indicators of patients with metabolic syndrome in Northwest China

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2023-01, Vol.249, p.114438-114438, Article 114438
• Main Authors: Zheng, Shan, Zhang, Xiaofei, Zhang, Li, Shi, Guoxiu, Liu, Yanli, Lv, Kang, Zhang, Desheng, Yin, Chun, Bai, Yana, Zhang, Yaqun, Wang, Minzhen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gaseous pollutants; Jinchang cohort; Metabolic health indicators; Metabolic syndrome (Mets); Mixed effects model
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114438

Currently few studies have explored the relationship between exposure to gaseous pollutants and metabolic health indicators in patients, especially in patients with metabolic syndrome (Mets). This study collected 15,520 patients with Mets in a prospective cohort of nearly 50,000 people with 7 years of follow-up from 2011 to 2017, and matched air pollutants and meteorological data during the same period. The mixed effects model was used to analyze the relationship between different short exposure windows (1-week, 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month) of gaseous pollutants (SO2, NO2, and O3) and the metabolic health indicators of patients after controlled the confounding factors. Stratified analysis was performed by demographic characteristics and behavioral factors. The effects of gaseous pollutants on patients with different Met components were also analyzed. The results showed that the short-term exposure to SO2, NO2, and O3 had a certain effect on the metabolic health indicators of patients with Mets in different exposure windows, and with the extension of the exposure window period, the effects increased. The stratified analysis showed that gender, age, and life behaviors might modify these detrimental effects. In addition, the effects of gaseous pollutants on metabolic health indicators in G4 and G7 were more obvious than other Met components, and the effects of gaseous pollutants on the level of LDL-C were found to be statistically significant in most components. Therefore, patients with Mets should pay more attention to the influence of gaseous pollutants to take appropriate protection to reduce potential health risk. •SO2, NO2 and O3 can affect metabolic health indicators of Metabolic syndrome.•With extension of exposure windows, effects of gaseous pollutants increased.•The elderly and males were more sensitive to gaseous pollutants.•Effects of pollutants on LDL-C levels were more significant in Met components.