Frontiers in Public Health (Feb 2024)

The causal effect of air pollution on the risk of essential hypertension: a Mendelian randomization study

  • Zhiwei Xia,
  • Yinjiang Liu,
  • Chao Liu,
  • Ziyu Dai,
  • Ziyu Dai,
  • Xisong Liang,
  • Xisong Liang,
  • Nan Zhang,
  • Wantao Wu,
  • Jie Wen,
  • Jie Wen,
  • Hao Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1247149
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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BackgroundAir pollution poses a major threat to human health by causing various illnesses, such as cardiovascular diseases. While plenty of research indicates a correlation between air pollution and hypertension, a definitive answer has yet to be found.MethodsOur analyses were performed using the Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of exposure to air pollutants from UKB (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOX; n = 423,796 to 456,380), essential hypertension from FinnGen (42,857 cases and 162,837 controls) and from UKB (54,358 cases and 408,652 controls) as a validated cohort. Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) were conducted to investigate the causal relationship between air pollutants and essential hypertension. Body mass index (BMI), alcohol intake frequency, and the number of cigarettes previously smoked daily were included in multivariable MRs (MVMRs) as potential mediators/confounders.ResultsOur findings suggested that higher levels of both PM2.5 (OR [95%CI] per 1 SD increase in predicted exposure = 1.24 [1.02–1.53], p = 3.46E-02 from Finn; OR [95%CI] = 1.04 [1.02–1.06], p = 7.58E-05 from UKB) and PM10 (OR [95%CI] = 1.24 [1.02–1.53], p = 3.46E-02 from Finn; OR [95%CI] = 1.04 [1.02–1.06], p = 7.58E-05 from UKB) were linked to an increased risk for essential hypertension. Even though we used MVMR to adjust for the impacts of smoking and drinking on the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and essential hypertension risks, our findings suggested that although there was a direct positive connection between them, it is not present after adjusting BMI (OR [95%CI] = 1.05 [0.87–1.27], p = 6.17E-01). Based on the study, higher exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 increases the chances of developing essential hypertension, and this influence could occur through mediation by BMI.ConclusionExposure to both PM2.5 and PM10 is thought to have a causal relationship with essential hypertension. Those impacted by substantial levels of air pollution require more significant consideration for their cardiovascular health.

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