Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 13: Elderly and middle-aged people suffering from diabetes face a significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases due to long-term exposure to air pollution, a study conducted in China has found.

Researchers from a hospital affiliated with Northwest University in Shanxi Province analysed data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a nationally representative survey covering adults aged 45 years and above. The study tracked 5,430 eligible participants over four years, with 2011 taken as the baseline.

Participants were divided into four groups based on the presence or absence of diabetes and newly diagnosed cardiovascular disease during the study period. Cardiovascular disease outcomes were identified through self-reports, while diabetes was diagnosed according to American Diabetes Association criteria. Conditions assessed included heart attack, coronary artery disease, angina, heart failure, stroke and other heart-related ailments.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was found to be significantly higher among participants with diabetes at 13.8%, compared to 8.5% among those without diabetes. The study showed that for every interquartile range increase in air pollutant concentration, the risk of cardiovascular disease rose by 19% to 28%, with PM10 displaying the strongest association. Other pollutants examined included PM1, PM2.5 and ozone.

Researchers also used the Inflammatory Lipid Ratio (ILR) as a biomarker to assess vulnerability to cardiovascular disease. The study noted that air pollution entering the bloodstream can trigger widespread inflammation, leading to tissue damage. “ILR may exacerbate inflammatory responses and lipid metabolism disorders, thereby increasing cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients,” the researchers said, suggesting the need for tailored therapies for diabetics exposed to chronic air pollution.

Although the data was drawn from China, experts said the findings are relevant to India, where air pollution levels remain persistently high, particularly during winter months. India also carries one of the world’s largest diabetes burdens, with around 90 million adults living with the disease.

Previous studies conducted in cities such as Delhi and Chennai have already shown that prolonged exposure to PM2.5 pollution can elevate blood sugar levels and increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, reinforcing concerns about the combined impact of pollution and chronic disease.