Temperature and PM2.5 jointly influence short-term cardiovascular risk through nonlinear and subgroup-specific pathways, with temperature showing stronger short-term associations than local PM2.5 in West Florida.
Temperature showed stronger short-term associations with cardiovascular hospital admissions than local PM2.5.
Among adults aged ≥65 years, myocardial infarction risk was higher at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures.
Heart failure showed a U-shaped temperature-risk relationship, with greater heat-related risk among younger adults and Black patients.
PM2.5 showed weaker overall associations with cardiovascular outcomes, with only a modest elevation in stroke risk among Black patients.
Joint temperature-PM2.5 exposure surfaces revealed outcome-specific nonlinear patterns, particularly for heart failure at higher temperature and PM2.5.
The study characterized joint short-term temperature and PM2.5 effects on cardiovascular outcomes in a subtropical coastal region, West Florida, where they had not been well characterized.
The authors conclude that integrated climate and air-quality strategies are needed to reduce cardiovascular disparities.
This study looked at hospital admissions for heart attack, heart failure, and stroke in the BayCare Health System in West Florida from 2017 to 2024. The researchers examined how daily temperature and fine particle air pollution (PM2.5), together, were linked to admissions over the following week. Temperature appeared to matter more than local PM2.5 for short-term cardiovascular risk. Among adults 65 and older, heart attack risk was higher on cooler days than on warmer ones. Heart failure risk rose at both low and high temperatures (a U-shaped pattern), and heat-related heart failure risk was higher among younger adults and Black patients. PM2.5 showed weaker links overall, with only a small and statistically uncertain increase in stroke risk among Black patients. This research suggests that heat, cold, and air pollution may affect heart health differently depending on the condition and the person's age and race. It points to a need for climate and air-quality planning to consider these differences. As an observational study of hospital admissions in one region, it shows associations rather than proof of cause.
Chen C, Shehub A, Orgul S, Davis M, Valina-Toth A. (2026). Joint Impacts of Ambient Air Pollution and Temperature on Cardiovascular Disease in West Florida.. Journal of the American Heart Association. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.126.049988