Association of air pollutions and systemic inflammation with early cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and elderly adults: a cross-sectional study from CHARLS

Nov 10, 2025Scientific reports

Links between air pollution, body inflammation, and early heart, kidney, and metabolism problems in middle-aged and older adults

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Abstract

Per-SD increases in concentrations of air pollutants are associated with elevated prevalence of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic () syndrome.

Fine particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO), nitrogen dioxide (NO), ozone (O), and carbon monoxide (CO) are linked to increased CKM prevalence, with odds ratios ranging from 1.135 to 1.263.
Stronger associations with CKM syndrome are observed in individuals aged 65 years or younger, males, urban residents, and non-smokers.
(CRP) is significantly associated with an increased risk of CKM syndrome, with an odds ratio of 1.207.
Higher air pollutant concentrations may amplify the risk of CKM syndrome in individuals with elevated CRP levels.
The adverse effects of air pollutants are most pronounced among individuals with moderate inflammation.

AI simplified

Ambient air pollution and systemic inflammation are recognized as risk factors for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic () syndrome. However, the joint effect on middle-aged and elderly people in China remains unclear. This research aimed to explore the association between the long-term effects of air pollution/ (CRP) and early CKM syndrome. This cross-sectional cohort involved 9293 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2015 (Wave 3). The concentrations of air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM), inhalable particles (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO), nitrogen dioxide (NO), ozone (O) and carbonic oxide (CO), were obtained from the ChinaHighAirPollutants (CHAP), which contains estimates of the concentrations of these air pollutants in residences at the city level. CKM syndrome was diagnosed according to the American Heart Association (AHA) definition, and stages 1 and 2 were defined as early stages in this study. Generalized linear model (GLM) was employed to assess the relationship between air pollutants and CKM syndrome, while the interactions between CRP and air pollutants were also included to evaluate the modified impacts of CRP on the air pollution-CKM association. GLM results revealed that per-SD increases in the concentrations of PM, PM, SO, NO, Oand CO were corresponded to elevated CKM prevalence, with ORs (95% CI) of 1.209 (1.085-1.346), 1.263 (1.134-1.406), 1.227 (1.098-1.372), 1.182 (1.060-1.317), 1.135 (1.019-1.265) and 1.160 (1.041-1.292), respectively. Stronger correlations were seen among individuals aged ≤ 65 years, males, urban residents and non-smokers. Moreover, CRP was significantly linked to a greater risk of CKM (OR = 1.207, 95% CI 1.126-1.295). Higher concentrations of air pollutants progressively amplified the risk of CKM syndrome associated with elevated CRP. And the adverse effects of air pollutants were most prominent among individuals with moderate, rather than minimal or severe levels of inflammation. Prolonged exposure to air pollutants has been linked to a greater risk of early CKM syndrome, potentially mediated by inflammatory responses. Particularly, CRP modified the air pollutant-CKM relationship in a complex manner, whereas air pollutants showed a more evident modification of the CRP-CKM association. Considering the ageing population and the health burden posed by CKM, interventions should aim to improve air quality and alleviate systemic inflammatory conditions. 2.5 10 2 2 3 2.5 10 2 2 3

Key numbers

1.263

Increased Prevalence Odds Ratio (OR)

Per-SD increase in PM concentration.

1.207

- Odds Ratio (OR)

Association of levels with syndrome.

8448

Participants Count

Total number of participants diagnosed with syndrome.

Full Text

We can’t show the full text here under this license. Use the link below to read it at the source.

View full text (PDF) ↗View full text (HTML) ↗

Association of air pollutions and systemic inflammation with early cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and elderly adults: a cross-sectional study from CHARLS

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief