Exposure to Household Air Pollution (HAP) and measures of central hemodynamic parameters among Bangladeshi population- A cross-sectional study.

Household Air Population (HAP) has been linked to an array of adverse health hazards, including cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. We have assessed whether household air pollution (HAP) is associated with hemodynamic parameters as part of the Bangladesh Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEO Health) project. We assessed central hemodynamic parameters-Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and Heart rate (HR) using a standard cuff sphygmomanometer (Omron) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) and Pulse Pressure (PP) using the standard formula. The exposures to particulate matter < 2.5µm (PM2.5) and Black Carbon (BC) from biomass fuel were measured for 24 hours using a personal monitor, RTI MicroPEM (RTI International, NC), among healthy, non-smoking women (n=400) and men (n=200). A multiple linear regression model adjusted for potential confounders was used to examine the association between HAP exposures and hemodynamic outcomes. The average 24-hour PM2.5 concentration was 167.7 μgm-3 for females and 98.0μgm-3 for males. The average 24-hour concentration of BC was 14.1μgm-3 for females and 10.3μgm-3 for males. In the adjusted multivariable regression model, an 1% increase in BC resulted in a 1.6 mm of Hg reduction in MAP (95% CI: -3.24, -.03 mm of Hg, P=0.04), 2.8 mm of Hg increase in PP (95% CI: 1.55, 4.22 mm of Hg, P=0.00) and 2.6 mm of Hg reduction in DBP (95% CI: -4.09, -1.10 mm of Hg, P=0.00). No association was observed between BC and SBP as well as BC and HR. PM2.5 was not associated with any of the hemodynamic parameters even after adjusting for age, cooking duration, household income, and Body mass index (BMI). This population-based study provides evidence that exposure to HAP (BC) is linked with central hemodynamic parameters, especially MAP and PP, which have negative implications for cardiovascular health when they become high and low. HAP, Hemodynamics, Bangladesh