OBJECTIVES
Evidence suggests that ambient air pollution contributes to metabolic dysregulation, including hyperuricemia. However, previous studies were limited to specific groups or regions with relatively high air pollutant concentrations. This study examined the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and hyperuricemia in a general population exposed to relatively low pollution concentrations.
METHOD
This cross-sectional study analyzed 20,117 adults who underwent health screenings in the Republic of Korea (2015-2019). Annual mean concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO were estimated at residential addresses using the Community Multiscale Air Quality model. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid level > 7.0 mg/dL (males) or > 6.0 mg/dL (females). Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) per interquartile range (IQR) increase in pollutant exposure, adjusting for confounders including estimated glomerular filtration rate.
RESULTS
Among 20,117 participants, 3,078 (15.3%) had hyperuricemia. All five pollutants were significantly associated with hyperuricemia. The ORs (95% CIs) per IQR increase were 1.06 (1.01-1.10) for PM2.5, 1.15 (1.08-1.21) for PM10, 1.07 (1.00-1.14) for NO2, 1.13 (1.07-1.19) for SO2, and 1.06 (1.01-1.11) for CO. Associations were stronger among current smokers, older adults, and individuals with dyslipidemia or central obesity (all P for interaction < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Long-term exposure to air pollutants was significantly associated with hyperuricemia, independent of renal function and even at low concentrations. These findings suggest that air pollution is an important environmental risk factor for metabolic disease, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations to protect vulnerable populations. Key Points • Long-term exposure to major ambient air pollutants is significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia, even at relatively low concentrations. • The association between air pollution and hyperuricemia persists independent of renal function, suggesting a potential role in systemic metabolic dysregulation. • Vulnerable populations, including older adults, current smokers, and individuals with metabolic conditions, exhibit stronger associations between air pollution exposure and hyperuricemia.
S. Cho, Hyun Jin Kim, Soontae Kim et al.· Clinical Rheumatology· 0 citations
AIMS
Despite the high burden of air pollutants, the association between air pollutant exposures and thyroid function in the general population is inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the association between annual exposure to air pollutants and thyroid function in Korean adults.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study included a total of 16,193 participants (8,812 males, 7,381 females; mean age: 53.8 ± 13.1 years) who underwent health examinations at Seoul National University and had thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations within the range of 0.1-10.0 mIU/L. The yearly average levels of five air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), NO2, SO2, and CO, were estimated using the Community Multiscale Air Quality model. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between annual ambient air pollutant exposures and thyroid function parameters, including TSH and free thyroxine (FT4).
RESULTS
Interquartile range (IQR) increases for PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO were positively associated with TSH and negatively associated with FT4 (all P < 0.001). Significant non-linear associations were observed for PM2.5 and NO₂ with log-transformed TSH, whereas all air pollutants showed non-linear associations with log-transformed FT4. The IQR increases of all air pollutants showed positive associations with the highest quartile of TSH (high TSH) and the lowest quartile of FT4 (low FT4), respectively. When thyroid function was categorized into four groups based on high/low TSH and/or high/low FT4, significantly positive associations were demonstrated with high TSH-low FT4 group, with the strongest association observed for PM10 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-1.69), followed by SO2 (1.38, 1.28-1.49), NO2 (1.36,1.23-1.50), PM2.5 (1.25, 1.17-1.34), and CO (1.23, 1.15-1.31). The sex-stratified analyses demonstrated more prominent associations among females.
CONCLUSIONS
Yearly exposure levels of air pollutants were positively associated with TSH, negatively associated with FT4 levels, and significantly associated with high TSH-low FT4. These findings suggest that exposure to ambient air pollution may contribute to thyroid function alterations at the population level, highlighting the importance of air quality improvement. Further longitudinal studies were warranted to consolidate these findings.
Sinyoung Cho, Seo Eun Hwang, J. Yun et al.· Journal of Endocrinological...· 0 citations
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