Interaction between Extreme Temperature Events and Fine Particulate Matter on Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity: Evidence from Four National Cohort Studies.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence linked extreme temperature events (ETEs) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) to cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM); however, it remained unknown if and how ETEs and PM_2.5 interact to trigger CMM occurrence. Merging four Chinese national cohorts with 64,140 free-CMM adults, we provided strong evidence among ETEs, PM_2.5 exposure, and CMM occurrence. Performing Cox hazards regression models along with additive interaction analyses, we found that the hazards ratio (HRs) of CMM occurrence associated with heatwave and cold spell were 1.006-1.019 and 1.063-1.091, respectively. Each 10 μg/m³ increment of PM_2.5 concentration was associated with 17.9% (95% confidence interval: 13.9-22.0%) increased risk of CMM. Similar adverse effects were also found among PM_2.5 constituents of nitrate, organic matter, sulfate, ammonium, and black carbon. We observed a synergetic interaction of heatwave and PM_2.5 pollution on CMM occurrence with relative excess risk due to the interaction of 0.999 (0.663-1.334). Our study provides novel evidence that both ETEs and PM_2.5 exposure were positively associated with CMM occurrence, and the heatwave interacts synergistically with PM_2.5 to trigger CMM.