Association between exposure to air pollution and blood lipids in the general population of Spain
Sergio Valdés, Viyey Doulatram‐Gamgaram, Cristina Maldonado‐Araque, Eva García‐Escobar, Sara García‐Serrano, Wasima Oualla‐Bachiri, Marta G. Vivanco, Juan Luís Garrido, Victoria Gil, Fernando Martín‐Llorente, Alfonso L. Calle‐Pascual, Luís Castaño, Elías Delgado, Edelmiro Menéndez Torre, Josep Franch‐Nadal, Sonia Gaztambide, J. Girbés, Felipe Javier Chaves, José Luis Galán–García, Gabriel Aguilera‐Venegas, Joan-Carles Vallvé, Núria Amigó, Montse Guardiola, Josep Ribalta, Gemma Rojo‐Martínez
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims We aimed to assess the associations of exposure to air pollutants and standard and advanced lipoprotein measures, in a nationwide sample representative of the adult population of Spain. Methods We included 4647 adults (>18 years), participants in the national, cross‐sectional, population‐based [email protected] study, conducted in 2008–2010. Standard lipid measurements were analysed on an Architect C8000 Analyzer (Abbott Laboratories SA). Lipoprotein analysis was made by an advanced 1 H‐NMR lipoprotein test (Liposcale®). Participants were assigned air pollution concentrations for particulate matter <10 μm (PM 10 ), <2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), corresponding to the health examination year, obtained by modelling combined with measurements taken at air quality stations (CHIMERE chemistry‐transport model). Results In multivariate linear regression models, each IQR increase in PM 10 , PM 2.5 and NO 2 was associated with 3.3%, 3.3% and 3% lower levels of HDL‐c and 1.3%, 1.4% and 1.1% lower HDL particle (HDL‐p) concentrations ( p < .001 for all associations). In multivariate logistic regression, there was a significant association between PM 10 , PM 2.5 and NO 2 concentrations and the odds of presenting low HDL‐c (<40 mg/dL), low HDL‐p (<p25) and higher LDL particle (LDL‐p) concentrations (≥p75). In subgroup analyses there were stronger associations between PM 10 and NO 2 and low HDL‐p in men ( p for interaction .008 and .034), and between NO 2 and low HDL‐p in individuals with obesity ( p for interaction .015). Conclusions Our study shows an association between the exposure to air pollutants and blood lipids in the general population of Spain, suggesting a link to atherosclerosis.