Air pollution raises death risk for MI patients, according to new study

Air pollution can greatly increase the risk of death for those who have had MI in the last four years, according to a new study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The report looked at 154,204 patients who had suffered from Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in the past four years across England and Wales, and saw that there had been 39,863 deaths. Scientists have linked these deaths with air pollution, suggesting that the tiny dust particles, known as PM2.5, were associated with all the patients that had been sent to hospital. With every 10 microgrammes extra in air pollution, there had been a 20 per cent increase in the death rate.

Researchers have now suggested that thousands of deaths could be prevented every year if previous MI patients are made aware of the air quality in the area in which they live and try to reduce their exposure to air pollution. The report further suggests that the death rate could be cut by at least 12 per cent, or 7,783 deaths, if MI patients live in areas which have normal PM2.5 levels. For example, patients that had lived in London, who had the most exposure, were more common amongst deaths.

It is encouraged however that other factors such as sex, smoking, age, income, address, medical history and employment should be considered. Lead author Cathryn Tonne said: “While reducing levels of PM2.5 will lead to increased life-expectancy and is an important public health priority, it isn’t likely to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in prognosis very much. There are likely to be other factors that are more important than PM2.5 exposure in explaining socioeconomic inequalities in prognosis, and this requires further investigation.”

Campaigners are now asking for the government to raise awareness about the link between air pollution and MI.