Effect of short-term exposure to particulate air pollution on heart rate variability in normal-weight and obese adults

BACKGROUND: The adverse effects of particulate air pollution on heart rate variability (HRV) have been reported. However, it remains unclear whether they differ by the weight status as well as between wake and sleep. METHODS: A repeated-measure study was conducted in 97 young adults in Beijing, China, and they were classified by body mass index (BMI) as normal-weight (BMI, 18.5–24.0 kg/m(2)) and obese (BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m(2)) groups. Personal exposures to fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) and black carbon (BC) were measured with portable exposure monitors, and the ambient PM(2.5)/BC concentrations were obtained from the fixed monitoring sites near the subjects’ residences. HRV and heart rate (HR) were monitored by 24-h Holter electrocardiography. The study period was divided into waking and sleeping hours according to time-activity diaries. Linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate the effects of PM(2.5)/BC on HRV and HR in both groups during wake and sleep. RESULTS: The effects of short-term exposure to PM(2.5)/BC on HRV were more pronounced among obese participants. In the normal-weight group, the positive association between personal PM(2.5)/BC exposure and high-frequency power (HF) as well as the ratio of low-frequency power to high-frequency power (LF/HF) was observed during wakefulness. In the obese group, personal PM(2.5)/BC exposure was negatively associated with HF but positively associated with LF/HF during wakefulness, whereas it was negatively correlated to total power and standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN) during sleep. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in BC at 2-h moving average was associated with 37.64% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 25.03, 51.51%) increases in LF/HF during wakefulness and associated with 6.28% (95% CI: − 17.26, 6.15%) decreases in SDNN during sleep in obese individuals, and the interaction terms between BC and obesity in LF/HF and SDNN were both statistically significant (p < 0.05). The results also suggested that the effects of PM(2.5)/BC exposure on several HRV indices and HR differed in magnitude or direction between wake and sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term exposure to PM(2.5)/BC is associated with HRV and HR, especially in obese individuals. The circadian rhythm of HRV should be considered in future studies when HRV is applied. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12940-021-00707-0.