Month: June 2024

Cardiovascular diseases confer major challenges globally in terms of public health, economic and social aspects. In the European Union, cardiovascular disease accounted for 1.7 million deaths in 2021, as well as the loss of 1.3 million working years. Among the various CVD, ischemic heart disease, most commonly caused by coronary artery disease, accounts for the highest percentage of mortality, being the cause of 34% of deaths in 2021.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and environmental conditions are one of its risk factors. With the ever-increasing burden of air pollution and the concomitant rise in atrial fibrillation cases, understanding and addressing this nexus holds significant implications for both clinical management and public health interventions. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between air pollution and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation episodes.

Exposure to air pollution is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which continue to remain the leading cause of death worldwide. Cardiovascular diseases also pose a significant public health challenge due to the substantial costs they generate. In this research, we want to analyze the short-term and long-term health effects of air pollution on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events defined as an occurrence of NSTEMI, STEMI and cardiovascular mortality.

In recent years air pollution has become one of the most important nonclassical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Guidelines suggest that high-risk patients should avoid regions with high air pollution levels, however, there is a lack of research conducted in areas with low or moderate air pollution concentrations. The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of air pollution on ischemic stroke incidence and identify the most vulnerable age and sex groups.