Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollutants and the Risk of Dyslipidemia: Insights from the Korean Genome Epidemiologic Survey Project

초록

BACKGROUND Air pollution (AP) is acknowledged as a notable environmental risk factor for several cardiovascular conditions, including dyslipidemia (DL). However, the specific relationship between longterm exposure to air pollutants and the risk of DL requires further investigation. This study aims to evaluate the association between AP and the occurrence of DL in a long-term perspective. METHODS This study utilized modeled air pollution (AP) data linked with the Korean Genome Epidemiologic Survey (KoGES) cohort data, based on participant addresses. Among the 78,071 participants who completed the follow-up, 47,649 subjects had DL at the baseline, while 30,422 subjects were non-DL. AP exposure concentrations were evaluated using the 1-year averages prior to the follow-up date. A time-varying Cox proportional hazards model was employed to analyze the relationship between DL and air pollutants, with exposure concentrations categorized into quantile values. RESULTS The analysis revealed that subjects exposed to air pollutants had an increased risk of developing DL, with the exception of O3. Notably, exposure to gaseous air pollutant components like SO2, NO2 and CO demonstrated a gradual increase in the risk of DL based on the high concentration of exposure (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.142, NO2 Q5; HR 1.144, SO2 Q5; HR 1.392, CO Q5). Similarly, long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) was also associated with a higher risk of developing DL, correlating with an increased concentration per unit area. CONCLUSION This study underscores the adverse connection between prolonged exposure to air pollutants and the risk of dyslipidemia. From a public health and environmental policy standpoint, it highlights the importance of managing lipid levels, especially in individuals exposed to elevated air pollution, even if they currently do not have dyslipidemia.