Short-term association between air pollution and hypertension mortality in Wuhan residents

Air pollution has been suggested as a trigger of hypertension (HTN), but it has not yet been fully analyzed how it impacts short-term HTN mortality. This study aimed to assess the association between short-term air pollution exposure and HTN mortality among Wuhan residents. This study used site-based HTN data from 2013 to 2019, in addition to data on meteorology and air pollution. Associations between short-term air pollution exposure and HTN mortality were assessed using generalized additive models (GAM). Positive links were found between PM 2.5 , PM 10, SO 2 , and NO 2 and HTN diseases mortality. In the single-pollutant model, for every 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 , PM 10 , SO 2 , and NO 2 , the percent changes (PCs) for HTN mortality were 0.991% (95% CI: 0.205, 1.778), 0.835% (95% CI: 0.336, 1.334), 4.344% (95% CI: 2.021, 6.668), and 1.740% (95% CI: 0.785, 2.694), respectively. O 3 was found negatively associated with HTN mortality, and the PC with every 10 μg/m 3 increase after a accumulated lag of 7 days in O 3 exposure was −1.000% (95% CI: −1.760, −0.240). All pollutants risk estimates were robust to adjustment for co-pollutants. Stratified analysis showed that females and people aged over 65 were more likely to be harmed by air pollution. In conclusion, short-term exposure to air pollution may increase the risk of HTN mortality. The negative association reported in O 3 provides further insight into the health effects of air pollution.