Environment & Health
Pollution sources differ in links to irregular heartbeat risk
For sulfate particles, the hazard ratio—a relative risk measure—was 1.056 per exposure increase spanning the middle half of levels, compared with lower exposure.For sulfate particles, the hazard ratio—a relative risk measure—was 1.056 per exposure increase spanning the middle half of levels, compared with lower exposure.
Cohort · 26,316,593 peoplePopulations
Who was studied26,316,593 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older, median 6 years
What changedIrregular heartbeat risk was higher with secondary sulfate pollution (hazard ratio 1.056 per interquartile-range increase), the strongest source-specific association
The catchOzone and nitrogen dioxide were omitted from models and could confound source-specific associations
