Abstract

Background Temuco, a city located in Southern Chile, has elevated air pollution, mainly due to the use of wood as combustion. Further, patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the public hospital doubles during this period. The present study aimed to evaluate variations in circulating levels of inflammatory mediators among healthy subjects and ACS patients between the low (LAP) and high air pollution (HAP) seasons. Methods 91 subjects without cardiovascular diseases were randomly selected from general population to obtain demographic and clinical information at LAP and HAP. Additionally, were included 46 and 38 ACS patients admitted during LAP and HAP, respectively. Serum inflammatory proteins were analyzed by using a multiplex system. Results In the group of healthy subjects, total and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and waist-hip ratio were significantly lower at HAP season, while systolic blood pressure was significantly higher. Circulating inflammatory proteins (Fig. 1) were also significantly lower during HAP. Regarding the ACS patients, no differences were observed in age, blood pressure, heart rate and waist-hip ratio among patients admitted during LAP and HAP. Interestingly, circulating levels of IL-18, MCP-1, MMP-2, sICAM and sVCAM were higher in HAP season (Fig. 2). Conclusion High air pollution was associated with modifications in levels of circulating inflammatory molecules with opposite effects for healthy subjects and ACS patients.