
Posted on June 20, 2024
The researchers of the study identified that fine particulate matter or PM 2. 5 pollution caused the body detoxification system to be damaged combined with lowered ability to fight inflammation, which is a risk factor to both cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
New research also indicated the presence of air pollution could worsen the chances of developing a heart disease and dying among cancer patients thus deepening health inequalities among the group.
The following sections present a synthesis of eight papers published between 2000 and 2023 which looked at the direct links between air pollution and cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke as well as cancer more than one. The review showed 1 crore participants were also taken into consideration.
For instance, the researchers observed that fine particulate (PM2. 5) pollution reduced the detoxification of the human body and lowered one’s immune system to inflammation, risks implicated in both cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Air pollution is undoubtedly significant in the discourse of cardio-oncology, according to the authors, including the ones affiliated with Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China.
It becomes quite alarming when one realizes that even within the short term, any cancer patient can easily have a change in their heart health due to exposure to high quality air pollutants. The findings are published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC): The established specialty, CardioOncology.
“This implies that even though for a short time, the air quality can have real-time negative impacts on cardio-oncology patients,” explained the study’s senior author, Xiaoquan Rao, MD, a cardiologist, Tongji Hospital affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
The presence of air pollution also exacerbate health disparities globally since the disadvantaged group is poorer and exposed to more and it noted that cancer patients in the pollute areas are more vulnerable of heart disease and death as compared to the general public.
As per the authors, despite awareness about the adverse impacts of air pollution on the cardio-cancerous and cancer, the current study seeks to demonstrate the impact in Cardio-Oncology that is the intersectionality of both ailments, which has received limited scholarly attention.
Burden of fatalities caused by air pollution is suggested to be 100 times higher in LMICs than in developed countries. Likewise, over 65 per cent of deaths due to cancer and roughly 70 per cent of cardiovascular disease deaths happens in LMICs, the authors stated in their study.
The ability to incorporate and consider the environmental aspects had an important role in cardio-oncology risk and patient management according to Rao’s observation and the study findings could be of importance in teasing out people who are more at risk.
“This knowledge is helpful in implementing specific prevention and control of air pollution exposure, as well as patient care with regard to his/her cardiovascular disease risk in cancer patients”, pointed Rao.
The authors also presented the possible prevention measures that can help minimizes the negative impact of the exposure to air pollutants, considering the general public and the governments.