The Impact of Short-Term Outdoor Air Pollution on Clinical Status and Prognosis of Hospitalized Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Treated with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of acute exposure to air pollutants on patients’ profile, short- and mid-term outcomes of hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) treated with coronary angioplasty. Methods: Out of 19,582 patients of the TERCET Registry, 7521 patients living in the Upper Silesia and Zaglebie Metropolis were included. The study population was divided into two groups according to the diagnosis of chronic (CCS) or acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Data on 24-h average concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), and ozone (O(3)) were obtained from eight environmental monitoring stations. Results: No significant association between pollutants’ concentration with baseline characteristic and in-hospital outcomes was observed. In the ACS group at 30 days, exceeding the 3rd quartile of PM10 was associated with almost 2-fold increased risk of adverse events and more than 3-fold increased risk of death. Exceeding the 3rd quartile of SO(2) was connected with more than 8-fold increased risk of death at 30 days. In the CCS group, exceeding the 3rd quartile of SO(2) was linked to almost 2,5-fold increased risk of 12-month death. Conclusions: The acute increase in air pollutants’ concentrations affect short- and mid-term prognosis in patients with CAD.