Residential Proximity to Major Roads, Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter, and Coronary Artery Calcium: The Framingham Heart Study

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2016 Aug;36(8):1679-85. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.116.307141. Epub 2016 Jun 16.

Abstract

Objective: Long-term exposure to traffic and particulate matter air pollution is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, potentially via atherosclerosis promotion. Prior research on associations of traffic and particulate matter with coronary artery calcium Agatston score (CAC), an atherosclerosis correlate, has yielded inconsistent findings. Given this background, we assessed whether residential proximity to major roadway or fine particulate matter were associated with CAC in a Northeastern US study.

Approach and results: We measured CAC ≤2 times from 2002 to 2005 and 2008 to 2011 among Framingham Offspring or Third-Generation Cohort participants. We assessed associations of residential distance to major roadway and residential fine particulate matter (2003 average; spatiotemporal model) with detectable CAC, using generalized estimating equation regression. We used linear mixed effects models to assess associations with loge(CAC). We also assessed associations with CAC progression. Models were adjusted for demographic variables, socioeconomic position markers, and time. Among 3399 participants, 51% had CAC measured twice. CAC was detectable in 47% of observations. At first scan, mean age was 52.2 years (standard deviation 11.7); 51% male. There were no consistent associations with detectable CAC, continuous CAC, or CAC progression. We observed heterogeneous associations of distance to major roadway with odds of detectable CAC by hypertensive status; interpretation of these findings is questionable.

Conclusions: Our findings add to prior work and support evidence against strong associations of traffic or fine particulate matter with the presence, extent, or progression of CAC in a region with relatively low levels of and little variation in fine particulate matter.

Keywords: air pollution; atherosclerosis; coronary artery calcium; epidemiology; multidetector computed tomography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Air Pollutants / adverse effects*
  • Automobiles*
  • Coronary Angiography / methods
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnosis
  • Coronary Artery Disease / epidemiology*
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Female
  • Housing*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Massachusetts
  • Middle Aged
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Odds Ratio
  • Particulate Matter / adverse effects*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Vascular Calcification / diagnosis
  • Vascular Calcification / epidemiology*
  • Vehicle Emissions*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter
  • Vehicle Emissions