Sex-age differences in association with particulate matter and emergency admissions for cardiovascular diseases: A hospital-based study in Taiwan

摘要

Objective: To explore the association between short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) emergency room visits. Study design: Case-control study. Methods: 2785 Emergency visits with presented cardiovascular diseases and 24,572 controls from ten hospitals in 2005 were obtained from a Taiwan's National Health Database. Daily PM10 data and meteorological information collected from an air monitoring station near the ten hospitals were used to calculate the exposure levels. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were estimated for the associations of PM and temperature with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and hypertension heart disease (HHD). Results: A positive association (AOR=1.05-1.75) between IHD emergency admission among women older than 65 and exposure to daily levels of PM10 pollution standard index (PSI) ≥50 compared with respondents exposed to PM10 PSI 50. Conclusions: To prevent exacerbation of IHD, people, especially elderly women, should be urged to reduce exposure to unhealthy PSI levels.