PM2.5 and Cardiovascular Diseases in the Elderly: An Overview

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Chenchen Wang²  Yifan Tu²  Zongliang Yu³  Rongzhu Lu¹ 

[1] Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China;Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China; E-Mails:;Department of Cardiology, The First People’s Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated to Jiangsu University, 91 Qianjin West Road, Kunshan 215132, China

关键词: PM_2.5;    Cardiovascular disease (CVD);    the elderly;    susceptibility;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph120708187

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the elderly and the ambient concentration of PM_2.5 has been associated with several cardiovascular diseases. Methods: We describe the present state of planetary air pollution, analyze epidemiological studies linking PM_2.5 and CVD, and discuss multiple pathophysiological mechanisms linking PM_2.5 and CVD. Results: A few epidemiological studies show that the elderly appear specifically susceptible to adverse cardiovascular effects triggered by PM_2.5 exposure. Plausible pathophysiological mechanisms include inflammatory dysfunction, oxidative stress, abnormal activation of the hemostatic system and disturbance of the autonomic nervous system. Conclusions: An in-depth knowledge of the chemical compounds, pathophysiological mechanisms, and epidemiological studies of PM_2.5 are recommended to understand this important and modifiable factor contributing to geriatric CVD burden. We offer public health recommendations to reduce this preventable cause of disease and death.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.