Study Links Air Pollution to Increased Inflammation in Heart Failure Patients
New Delhi: Heart failure patients are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, according to a new study conducted by heart researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City. The findings, presented at the American Heart Association’s 2024 Scientific Sessions in Chicago, show that poor air quality elevates inflammatory markers in people with heart disease, putting additional strain on their bodies.
Researchers found that two specific inflammatory markers, CCL27 and IL-18, were elevated in heart failure patients exposed to high levels of air pollution but did not change in individuals without heart disease.
“These biomarkers rose in response to air pollution in people who already had heart disease, but not in patients who were heart disease free, showing that heart failure patients are not as able to adapt to changes in the environment,” said Dr Benjamin Horne, PhD, principal investigator of the study and professor of research at Intermountain Health.
The study was a collaborative effort between Intermountain Health, Stanford University, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Researchers analyzed blood samples from the Intermountain INSPIRE registry, which collects biological samples and medical data from healthy individuals and those with various medical conditions.
The research focused on 115 proteins linked to inflammation. Blood samples from 44 heart failure patients and 35 individuals without heart disease were compared.
Some samples were collected on days with low air pollution (PM2.5 levels below 7 μg/m³), while others were taken during pollution spikes (PM2.5 levels above 20 μg/m³) caused by wildfire smoke or winter inversions.
“This indicates that such air pollution events put more strain on the bodies of patients who already have heart problems,” Dr Horne explained.
He added, “These findings give us some information about mechanisms in people with heart failure who are having inflammation and suggest they’re not as capable in responding to acute inflammation as people who are healthy.”
The study highlights the specific risks faced by heart failure patients during poor air quality events. It builds on previous research showing that individuals with chronic conditions, such as asthma, COPD, and coronary disease, struggle more during periods of air pollution.
Dr Horne emphasized the importance of precautionary measures. “It’s important that individuals with known heart disease, including those diagnosed with heart failure, need to be especially cautious during periods of poor air quality. This includes exercising indoors, making sure to take their prescribed medications, and avoiding areas like roadways and highways where there’s a lot more traffic and pollution,” he said.
The findings underscore the critical link between environmental factors and cardiac health, urging heart failure patients to adopt protective strategies during periods of elevated air pollution.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.