Relationship between particulate matter pollution and acute coronary syndrome incidence

(1) Background: In recent decades, studies have reported on the increased cardiovascular risk associated with increased levels of air pollutants, especially particulate matters (PM). It remains unclear whether the specific subgroups share the same involvement and whether the effect is delayed. (2) Methods: Data for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) incidences from 2008 to 2011 were gathered in two major medical centres in Slovenia. A time series analysis was conducted in which daily ACS incidence data were linked with daily concentrations of PM$_{10}$ (PM with a median aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm) using a well-established generalized linear model with a log link function and a Poisson distribution of ACS. We specifically focused on groups based simultaneously on age and gender. (3) Results: On the basis of the presented models, it appears that daily average concentrations of PM$_{10}$ have a significant impact on ACS incidence for the entire population, with a higher impact on older populations and the highest impact on older men. The analysis of the delayed effect in PM$_{10}$-related ACS incidences observed the strongest effect at a one day lag. (4) Conclusions: Our study detected the presence of a “rise and fall” lag pattern observed in three aforementioned population groups ; however, no significant association was detected for women and younger populations.